A/HRC/56/CRP.8 153. Women’s rights organizations have also reported that they are tracking increasing reports of the trafficking of women and girls following the SAC’s recent enactment of the 2010 People’s Military Service Law, which facilitates military conscription. The law makes all men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27 who are citizens eligible to be conscripted. “Professional” men and women are eligible for conscription up to the ages of 45 and 35, respectively. Rights organizations warned that the law would trigger a mass exodus, with the Thai embassy in Yangon seeing waves of visa applications shortly after the SAC’s announcement. Women are using dangerous channels to flee the country amid fears of conscription, putting them at high risk of trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Conscription exemptions for married women also raise the risk of early and forced marriage for girls and women. 154. As families deal with loss of financial resources, strained access to education for girls, and fear for their daughters’ safety in militarized areas, there have been reports that early or forced marriages have been on the rise across all states and regions. A women’s activist told the Special Rapporteur: Many parents cannot send their daughters to go abroad to work officially due to money. Now they want their daughters to get married at a young age because it’s the only hope for their daughter to not join the army or get taken away. If these young women are trying to get married at a young age what will happen because they do not have preparation for marriage at young age and there will be more gender-based violence issues as a result. 155. Adolescent girls in conflict and displacement settings are particularly vulnerable to early marriages, contributing to negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes, increased risk of gender-based violence, and disrupted education. Given the worsening economic situation, parents sometimes see early marriage as a way to reduce the number of dependents in their household. Reports suggest that rising insecurity, displacement, school closures, and violence may be correlated to an increase of the practice. F. Mental health concerns 156. The multitude of threats to women, girls, and LGBT people—as well as their families—have contributed to a mounting psychological and mental health crisis. Women’s organizations told the Special Rapporteur that conflict, displacement, and deprivation are placing a huge burden on women and girls, who are suffering from anxiety, stress, depression, PTSD, and suicidal ideation. 157. Mental health concerns are especially severe for women and girls who have been displaced from their homes or otherwise impacted by armed conflict. Many grapple with the near constant fear of military attacks as well as sexual violence by SAC forces. They also must contend with sexual harassment and the risk of other forms of gender-based violence within their communities. Mothers worry about their children, including the risk that they will be trafficked. Women also feel heightened stress resulting from increasing household responsibilities as male relatives join armed groups, face forced conscription, or are killed in conflict. Household stress caused by displacement and economic uncertainty has led to a notable rise in verbal and physical abuse by spouses, creating an unstable and unsafe home environment for many women and impacting their mental wellbeing. 158. A displaced Karenni woman told the Special Rapporteur about how she lives in constant fear and anxiety: We have no safe place in city, village, or forest. I cannot sleep well at night. We can live without eating, but we have several sleepless nights. We want to sleep peacefully 35