As a result of Myanmar’s political and economic crises, women are more vulnerable to violence and predation than they were pre-coup, according to Arakanese women’s activists.

Amidst the upheaval that has accompanied the Myanmar military’s takeover in February 2021, women are struggling more than before, and violence and various insecurities are becoming more worrying issues, said Ma Khin Myint Zaw, an in-charge of Women Generation (Sittwe branch).

Her organisation is providing assistance in cases of violence against women by conducting vocational training courses and helping to address the problems women are facing.

Women’s rights activists led by Women Generation held an awareness campaign in Sittwe on August 14, aiming to make people aware of the particular vulnerabilities that many women are grappling with in the post-coup period.

“Through this discussion, I learned that women are in more difficulties than in the past. Mainly because we want people to know that this period has more impact on women, and this is the reason for the event,” Ma Hla Moe Taryar Hlaing, a participant, told DMG.

The event was attended by women’s rights activists, legal experts, members of local social organisations and others, totaling 50 people.

Women’s rights activist Ko Myo Min Thu told DMG that economic hard times were partly to blame for an uptick in crimes against women.

“As people are facing political and economic crises, robberies have increased across the country. Women are increasingly targeted,” he said. “It’s easier to rob and steal from women who can’t fight back, so women face more violence during this period. That’s why people need to know that women are struggling more than ever.”

From January to August, there have been 235 complaints of women’s rights being violated in Arakan State, of which 27 cases have been resolved through legal proceedings, according to Daw Mya Thuzar, a lawyer from the Legal Clinic Myanmar (Arakan Branch).