Thuta Linn — Female candidates in Kachin State contested the recent election but few of them won seats. In total, 67 ran but only 8 were successful. Half were from the National League for Democracy (NLD), according to voting results released by the Union Election Commission (UEC).
Ma Nan Pu, a coordinator with the community based organization Htwel in Kachin State, said the number of winning women candidates is definitely an improvement from the last election in 2010 but the numbers are still few.
“We need more female MPs in Kachin State because women from this area have suffered more than in other areas (of the country),” she said, explaining that incidents of rape in Kachin State are high. “It’s still not even possible to protect women from violence.”
Daw Shila Nan Taung, an NLD candidate that won an Upper House seat, said female MPs are just as capable as men and pointed out that they should be allowed to be closely involved in peace negotiations between the Kachin Independence Organisation and government. Its imperative she said to have more women in office to speak out for the rights of ethnic people. Furthermore, in Parliament women will work harder than men towards achieving gender equality.
Female candidates from the Kachin State Democracy Party, Lisu National Development Party) and the Union Solidarity and Development Party each won a seat in State Parliament. Nationally there were over 140 female candidates that contested the election.
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff
