Women face an increased risk of sexual harassment, rape and arrest since the military overthrew Burma's democratic government five months ago.

Tin Tin Nyo, an advisor for Burmese Women's Union (BWU), explained armed forces arrested many women who joined the protest movement. In prison or detention camps, guards sexually assault and rape female prisoners. “I am sure they will suffer torture in the interrogation centres after being arrested,” she said.

Hser Hser, general secretary of the Women League of Burma (WLB), told NMG the military threatened women not to oppose its rule. She said WLB has evidence guards “committed sexual abuses” against female captives during interrogation. “They threatened to rape them during interrogation. Some women have suffered mental trauma,” she said, while many are afraid to tell anyone about what happened to them. There are other cases where guards inserted objects into their genitals.

For many years, Hser Hser said the military has used sexual violence against women as a military strategy during its war on the ethnic nationalities in Kachin, Karen and Shan states or any of the other areas they reside. After the coup, it is happening to women everywhere.

The women organizations want the UN and the international community to take action against the military council for sexual violence against women and murdering its own civilians. According to the advocacy group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, the junta killed 885 people since February 1.