In 2024, more than 40 cases were reported to the Women and Child Affairs Department of the Karenni Interim Executive Council (IEC). The majority of these cases involved violence against women, according to IEC Deputy Director Maw Thet Mar, who spoke to the Kantarawaddy Times.
“There were over 40 cases reported. These were Gender-Based Violence cases occurring within the state. Among the reported cases, domestic violence was the most common, followed by rape.
The remaining cases involved sexual exploitation, other forms of physical harm, and abuse. These are the cases that were reported to us over the year,” she stated.
The Women and Child Affairs Department of the IEC is collaborating with the Karenni State Police (KSP) and other women’s rights-focused civil society organizations (CSOs) to address these cases, Maw Thet Mar added.
Karenni State Police spokesperson Ko Bo Bo stated that efforts are being made to address cases of violence against women in cooperation with relevant women’s groups.
“There are incidents of violence against women and girls. In such cases, we collaborate with local women’s groups and other community-based organizations (CBOs), like the Karenni National Women’s Organization (KNWO). We are working together with CSOs, NGOs, and others to address these issues as effectively as possible,” he explained.
Women’s rights activists have also reported an increase in violence against women in Karenni State following the military coup.
To combat violence against women, Maw Thet Mar emphasized the urgent need for legal protections and a robust legal system.
“To prevent these incidents, we need to enact laws that protect women as quickly as possible. Additionally, the government must ensure the effective functioning of the judiciary and strengthen the rule of law broadly and effectively,” she said.
From 2021 to October 2024, Karenni State saw 101 cases of physical violence, 65 cases of psychological violence, 21 cases of sexual violence, and 14 cases of rape, according to data from the Karenni National Women’s Organization (KNWO). KNWO stated that these numbers are based solely on cases that have been reported and documented by their organization.
