Kachin Human Rights Watch (KHRW) reported that terror attacks by the junta have claimed the lives of 7 children and 10 women in Kachin State over the past year.
According to KHRW, a total of 133 people were killed across Kachin State in 2025 due to airstrikes, drone attacks, and artillery shelling by the junta. Among the dead were the 7 children and 10 women, highlighting an increase in violent attacks compared to previous years.
Ko Jacob, a spokesperson for KHRW, urged Myanmar people to continue resisting the military regime. “Right now, we still can’t take effective action against the junta. So, I see that all of us civilians have to keep trying until the junta is brought down,” he said.
The report also noted that 17 people were unlawfully or extrajudicially detained in Kachin State during the year. Ko Jacob added that these figures, collected amid disruptions to phone and internet networks, may differ from the precise number of victims on the ground.
Meanwhile, the Kachin Women Peace Network (KWPW) highlighted that soldiers under the junta have committed sexual violence and other abuses against women. These acts, the group said, constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes.
“There’s a history of holding dictators accountable. To make sure the junta is judged for what it’s done, we, the people, have to stay united and be insightful. And we have to record everything the junta has committed,” said Ma Lu Lu, a KWPW spokeswoman.
Despite years of ongoing human rights violations, effective action at the United Nations has been blocked, with Russia and China repeatedly using their veto powers to shield the Myanmar military regime. Activists also point to support from neighboring countries and private business networks that supply the junta with weapons and aviation fuel, helping the regime maintain its grip on power.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) reported on January 15 that in 2025, at least 45 children under 18 were killed due to indiscriminate shelling by the junta across Myanmar. In total, 224 people were killed last year, including 107 women and 117 men, with the highest fatalities recorded in Sagaing and Magway regions.
These figures cover the period from January 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026. AAPP noted that actual casualty numbers on the ground may be higher.
The junta continues to hold its three-phase general election, ostensibly to claim legitimacy, with the final round scheduled for January 25.
