A Gendered Overview of the Human Rights Situation in Southeastern Burma

Situation Overview for Women in Burma: January – March 2026

The burden of war continues to fall on women and girls in post-coup Burma. The challenges on the ground have been worsened by the ongoing humanitarian crisis, which has displaced more than 3.7 million people, and the struggle for survival remains critical. Amid the ongoing plight of local people, the junta has continued to escalate its attacks, including airstrikes, artillery fire, mortar shelling, and acts of conflict-related sexual violence.

There were nearly 800 women killed by the military junta throughout 2025, according to the Burmese Women’s Union (BWU), with the majority killed by airstrikes, claiming the lives of 621 women. Most of the victims were from the Sagaing Region, followed by Mandalay Region and Rakhine State, as well as Shan and Karenni States. The documentation from BWU was met with their ongoing calls of condemnation of the violence. They have repeatedly urged the international community to respond to the daily threats against women and girls, including through targeted sanctions on aviation fuel and imposing a global arms embargo.

While young men and boys face the risk of being forcibly recruited by the junta or accused of loyalty to the opposition, women and girls, who are fulfilling multiple roles, are often caught in indiscriminate and targeted attacks by the regime. Amid the ongoing gaps in protection, food insecurity remains among the most urgent concerns, with over 400,000 children and mothers already suffering from acute malnutrition. This has presented further challenges for internally displaced people (IDPs), especially pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

The temporary camps are small and ill-equipped to provide families with the privacy they need in close quarters. With men being the majority at the helm of the leadership in the camps, these needs are consequently overlooked. The lack of consultation of women’s voices remains an ongoing challenge, as long-established rights groups have repeatedly called for greater inclusion of all voices. Women’s perspectives are critical to ensuring that Burma’s future is shaped by gender-informed policies.

Additional challenges include the consequential impacts of forced conscription on women and girls. Women in Mawlamyine have expressed deep fear and uncertainty, especially as reports of women being targeted for conscription have circulated for months. One local woman said the junta had been trying since last year to recruit women in Mawlamyine, and residents had also heard reports of young women being arrested in Bilin and Thaton townships.

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