In Burma, women are the worst victims of war. So why is it that Burmese women have basically been cut out of all peace negotiations? In the past four years, while peace talks attempt to bring stability to the region, women have been largely absent from the discussion. Of the 195 senior delegates assigned to negotiate peace over the past four years, only ten have been women.
Meanwhile, Burmese laws are woefully behind the times in offering women even the most basic protections. No specific law says that a woman cannot be the victim of violence in her own home. Women cannot sue for sexual harassment in the workplace or get a restraining order against a violent attacker.
Please join me in asking the new government of Burma to abolish and/or revise laws that curtail the rights of women and actively involve women in peace talks.
Dear Assembly of the Union of Burma:
We the undersigned are dismayed at the lack of representation for women on two fronts in your country. First, it appears that women have been mostly absent from participation in peace talks. That makes no sense because women are typically the worst victims of war. Secondly, your laws do far too little to protect women from violence. You need laws that specifically state that women cannot be beaten or raped by their own family members or husbands. Women should also be protected in the workplace. Please abolish and/or revise laws that curtail the rights of women and actively involve women in peace talks.
