The 1 February 2021 military coup precipitated an unprecedented human rights and
humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. Armed conflict, displacement, economic collapse, hunger,
and the junta’s gross human rights violations threaten the lives and well-being of people in
every corner of the country. Women, girls, and LGBT people are severely and uniquely
impacted by this crisis, yet these impacts are all too often obscured and ignored by the
international community.
This conference room paper seeks to shed light on the gendered impacts of the coup
and the Myanmar military junta’s gross human rights violations. It has been made possible
by the guidance, testimony, and insights of those who are working courageously and
tenaciously to address these challenges. They have made it clear that while women and
LGBT people have suffered enormously, they are playing a critical role as human rights
defenders and leaders in the resistance movement.
The threat of sexual and gender-based violence is a dark shadow that follows women,
girls, and LGBT people throughout Myanmar. Junta forces have committed widespread rape
and other forms of sexual violence, often characterized by the utmost cruelty and
dehumanization. Members of resistance forces have also been responsible for abuses against
women, girls, and LGBT people. Accountability for sexual and gender-based violence is
extremely rare, and survivors struggle to access the support they need. Displacement,
financial distress, and the lack of access to education and health care have caused many
women and girls to adopt negative coping strategies, increasing their vulnerability to
violence, human trafficking, early or forced marriage, and sexual exploitation. Rohingya
women, girls, and LGBT people face heightened risks rooted in the systematic denial of
citizenship and basic human rights.