Daw Nyo Aye, Chair of the Rakhine Women’s Network stated that local CSOs working on women’s issues will call on elected Arakan women MPs to address the safety of women displaced in the fighting between the Tatmadaw, and the AA.

There are four elected female parliamentarians: two in the Arakan State parliament, one for the lower house parliament, and one for the upper house parliament.

Elected candidate Daw Khin Myo Yin who won the Taunggup Township Constituency-2 said: “The female MPs are assumed to mainly prioritize the rights of women, and how their sufferings and losses caused by the ongoing armed conflicts. I will fight against all violations of female rights and sexual violence. I have decided to do my best in cooperation with the CSOs working for women. Efforts are being made to enact a law to protect the rights of women in parliament.”

Currently, there are discussions via phone and online between the Arakan CSOs working for women rights and the elected candidates, over the safety and security of women including the rights of women.

Saw San Nyein Thu, Chair of the Rakhine Women’s Initiative Organization said: “We will have regular contact with the female lawmakers. In particular we will cooperate with them to effectively carry out the women-related issues such as security, peace and development based around women. The organization will try to provide assistance to the female candidates to obtain further qualifications if necessary.

According to the list issued by the Rakhine Ethnics Congress (REC) on December 3th, there are more than 190,000 IDPs in Arakan State, most of whom are females.

Daw Hla Hla Chay, an IDP taking shelter at Nyaunchaung IDP camp in Kyuaktaw Township said: “Female IDPs are concerned about their health, accommodation and security. They are in need of household utensils. Women feel unsafe as they have to stay together with men. We need winter clothes as winter has set in.