The 16 days campaign for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which falls on November 25 every year, is being jointly celebrated by the Ministry of Women, Youths and Children Affairs, the Ministry of Human Rights, and the Ministry of Communications, Information and Technology of the National Unity Government.

On November 25, the 16 days campaign to celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women was launched, and the NUG government’s Acting President Duwa Lashi La, Union Prime Minister Mann Win Khing Than, CRPH Chairman U Aung Kyi Nyunt, and Union Minister of Women, Youths and Children Affairs gave opening speeches.

In his speech at the ceremony, Acting President Duwa Lashi La expressed his pleasure to work with responsible governments and activist groups around the world in this campaign to eliminate gender-based violence, and stated that today he represents women, children, and all the people of Myanmar who have suffered throughout history, and that the elimination of gender-based violence is an important issue for Myanmar and one that the government must take seriously. 

Then, in delivering opening speech, Mahn Winn Khaing Thann, the Union Prime Minister of the National Unity Government, said that when preventing violence, it is necessary to adopt methods based on women’s human rights, and when responding to violence, it is necessary for groups to be victim-centered and respect their rights, security, dignity, and principles such as non-discrimination and confidentiality, and hence, the National Unity Government established the Ministry of Women, Youths and Children Affairs to effectively protect the people during the revolutionary period.

Continuing, U Aung Kyi Nyunt, Chairman of Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, delivered his opening remarks as follows:

“I would like to say that the time has come to set an example for the civilized human community that we should not carry out any measures that may harm the dignity of women, physically or mentally. Women are the mothers of mankind. In other words, they are human beings full of great honor and dignity as the mothers of human culture and society. Rather than showing mercy and pity for not doing violence against women, we must take women seriously as great benefactors, and we must spread the message that violence against women is completely unacceptable.At the same time, we must also build mechanisms to protect against such oppression and violence. Unfortunately, 66 cases of violence, including rape, have been committed against more than 100 women in Myanmar since the military coup. They are also in danger of being killed. Looking back on this situation, there is evidence that a nun who was not even 14 years old at the time, as well as a nursing mother who had just given birth, were assaulted. This is heartbreaking. It is, in fact, a very rude and anti-civilization act. So, I sincerely hope that these 16 days of global educational campaigns will be able to protect the women who are our mothers for the foreseeable future.”

Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe, Union Minister of the National Unity Government’s Ministry of Women, Youths and Children Affairs, also invited people to participate in the 16-day white ribbon campaign from November 25 to December 10.

The theme of the 16 days of White Ribbon Campaign from November 25 to December 10 is “UNiTE! Activism to End Violence against Women and Girls!”. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is being commemorated in collaboration with the relevant ministries of the National Unity Government,  and it is known that the activities will be broadcasted on the Facebook pages of the Ministry of Women, Youths and Children Affairs, and Public Voice Television Facebook page of the Ministry of Human Rights of the National Unity Government, and other media pages such as Mizzima, DVB, Khit Thit, The Voice of Spring, People’s Spring, D-Day Channel, Delta News Agency, and D-lann news.