Committee on the Elimination of Discriminationagainst Women
Fiftieth session
3–21 October 2011
Information provided in follow up to the concluding observations of the Committee
Myanmar
Response by Myanmar to the recommendations contained in the concluding observations of the Committee following the examination of the combined second and third periodic report of Myanmar on 3 November 2008
Participation of Women in Political and Public Life
1.In the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Government is striving to implement the activities for equal participation of women in the area of Public life, Politics and expertise. In the Implementation of Violence Against Women (VAW), awareness raising through Media, Providing trainings to concerned officials, prevention activities, taking action against offenders and rehabilitation program for victims are being conducted.
2.For Political rights of Myanmar Women, State Constitution (2008). Section 4, Article (120) state the qualification of Pyithu Hluttaw Member as follow:
(a)Person who has affairs age of 25 yrs.
(b)Citizen who was born of both Parents who are citizens.
(c)Person who has resided in the Union of Myanmar for at least (10) consecutive yrs up to the time of his election as Pyithu Hluttaw Representative. Provide so the official Period of stay in a foreign country with the permission of Union shall be counted as a residing Period in the Union.
(d)Person who possess qualifications prescribed by the election law.
3.According to the Article (120), Myanmar Women have access to equal rights with men in political rights. In the election which was conducted on 7 November 2010, (104) Women candidates made competition and (45) women are selected as Parliament members. Out of (45) elected women, some are assigned in Parliament’s Committees and as Parliament members, and ministers of States & Regions. Moreover, some are assigned as higher level ranks in Ministries and NGOs, shoulder to shoulder with men. In addition, it is a high pride that one woman is assigned as a member in the 6 person-election commission.
4.In the first Pyidaungsu Hluttaw meeting, which was held in 31st January 2011. Some Myanmar women are assigned as members of the following important committees. Moreover, Myanmar women have access to get equal participation with men in the three branches of sovereign power namely, legislative power, executive power and judicial power;
(a)Two women are assigned as Deputy Ministers for Ministry of Health and Ministry of culture.
(b)There are (15) members in Bill Committee. Among them, 2 women are assigned in this committee.
(c)Pyithu Hluttaw Public Accounts Committee has 15 members. Out of them, 3 members are women.
(d)Pyithu Hluttaw Rights Committee has (15) members. Out of them (2) are women.
(e)There are (15) members in Governments Guaran fees, Pledges and undertaking Vetting Committee. Among them 2 members are women.
(f)There are (15) members in Amyotha Hluttaw Bill Committee. Among them, (1) women is assumed in this committee.
(g)The Constitutional tribunal of the Union has (10) members. Out of them, 2 are women.
(h)The two women are assigned as the Minister of the affairs of National races in Yangon Region Government and Kaya State Government.
(i)There are four women appointed as Auditor General of the Region Government or State Government.
(j)Altogether there are (13) women appointed as member of the High Court of the Region or the High Court of the State in Kachin State, Kaya State, Kayin State, Rakhine State, Shan State, Tanintharyi Region, Magway Region, Mandalay Region, Yangon Region, Ayeyarwaddy Region respectively.
(k)One women is assigned as chief Attorney General of the Kachin State.
(l)One women Representative is assigned as Minister of National Races at Ayeyarwaddy Region Government.
5.According to the 2006-2007 statistics, It is found that 33.7% of higher pasts are women. Moreover, According to the 2009-2010 Statistics, it is found that in the education sector, 75.2% of lectures, Assistant Directors and 77.45% of Township education officers are women. Besides, in the Private sectors, there are also women, Managing Directors who manage business successfully.
6.For Women Participation in International affairs, the Women Representatives from respective Ministries as well as from NGOs are actively participating in international meeting, workshop, and Forum. In diplomatic sector, women also perform as Counselors and Deputy Heads of Mission and Director General. In economic sector, Forming of Myanmar Women Entrepreneur Association proved that the vital role of Myanmar Women is crucial in economic sector. The association assists the Myanmar Women entrepreneurs to promote international relations. Moreover, with the collaboration of Foreign Economic Association, the Association provides external & internal study tour program, workshops to strengthen women’s capacity. As a result, outstanding Myanmar Women Entrepreneurs are being produced.
7.For Future Women leaders, leadership Negotiation skills subject has been provided to basic junior officer training at CSSTB since 1999. The Continuation of program will be provided. Moreover Leadership & Negotiation skills trainings are being provided in Private sector by their own arrangement across the nation. In 2011, the women rights subject is being provided at Public Service University. Up to May 2011 this subject has been provided to (1766) University Teachers. This program will continue for next years.
8.In 2010, 3 disseminations workshop on concluding observation of UNCEDAW had been conducted in Taunggyi, Mandalay and Yangon for realization among stakeholders.
9.With the Collaboration of UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, and INGOS such as Action Aid, CARE, GOI, AFXB, LIFT, the department of social welfare established women friendly Space. Moreover, management trainings, income generating program, Vocational training, Food security training, Animal husbandry training, Counseling training and Health Education training are being provided in the Communities for women’s capacity building, with the collaboration of the DSW, UN and INGOs.
10.With the Collaboration of DSW and local NGO such as Ar Yone Oo Women’s group, Karan Women’s group YMCA, Yatana Myitta, Thingaha, Precious stone, Gender awareness raising program, life skills training, Health education program, vocational training program, Assisting the women by law are being provided to those women in the community.
11.To Broadly implement 12 Critical area of Beijing Plat Form for Action and Millennium Development Goals No(3) Gender equality, National Plan of Action for the advancement of women (2011-2015) has been drafted by the leadership of the DSW and Contribution of concerned government departments, UN Agency, INGOs for the development of Myanmar Women and fully enjoying their rights. The Plan of Action contains 12 areas based on Beijing Platform for Action.
12.Regarding Violence against Women, if complaints are received, the concerned authorities investigate the cases and take action against offenders according to the law. In 2010 from 1st Jan to 31 August, the Ministry of Home Affairs received 503 complement. Among them 101 complaints which are not correct are abolished and 199 complaints were taken into action. 203 complaints are still being investigated. According to investigation and complaints by women victims, It is found that (7) Military officers, 99 other ranks who committed sexual abuse have been accused and they are given severe punishment by Military Act.
13.The prevention & protection of violence against women activities are being implemented according to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar’s Constitution, Criminal Act, 2005 Anti-Trafficking Law. The prevention activities are being carried out by Central Body of suppression of Trafficking in persons and Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation. Rehabilitation programs for Victims are being conducted by the Department of social welfare. Based on the survey result on Domestic Violence which was conducted by Department of Health, Dissemination Workshops on prevention of Violence Against women are being conducted among Ministry of Health, other related Ministries and NGOs. Moreover, Awareness raising Workshops on Trafficking in Persons are being conducted in school, workplace and village level. Besides, prevention of Trafficking is done widely through pamphlets, Magazine, Video, Posters and Cartoons.
14. For Women’s development in Myanmar, Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation & Myanmar Maternal & Child Welfare Association was formed from central level to grass-root level. Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation provides technical skill trainings for women empowerment and provides loans for poverty reduction and also provide small investment to the women affected by Natural Disaster. Myanmar Maternal & Child Welfare Association is also carrying out Maternal & Child Health activities, care for older persons and small loans program throughout the nation.
15. For prevention & protection of Violence Against Women, the working group on prevention of Violence against women has been formed up to grass-root level under Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation. The Working group Conducted educational talks on Violence against women as preventive measure. In 2008, (4051) times of educational talk have been provided by MWAF. In 2008, 60 Counseling Centres are established through-out the country and altogether (416) women affected by Domestic violence receive counseling services.
16.The Department of planning gives priority to women empowerment program and trainings for women participation. From 2006 up to now (109) women are being sent to the internal and external program and training on empowerment of women. Moreover, Myanmar women officers, AFTA officers, are also sent to attend the leadership and negotiation skill training programmes such as Capacity development programme on financial services and investment, trade Negotiation training, international trade Negotiation Skills development training workshop and Management and leadership skills training for Senior Manager.
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Women in Northern Rakhine State
Out of the countries that connect with the boundary of Myanmar, Bangaladesh has a 152 miles boundary. It is found that Bengali tribes from Bangaladesh come slowly and steadily to Rakhine State and lived illegally there.
Out of these Bengali tribes, those who settle in the former time were permitted to live by issuing the temporary identity card in accordance with the procedure of law though they are not recognized as the national ethics but recognized as a suspected nationality.
As Bengali women do not go outside according to their tradition, they have less health care knowledge, social dealing, and education. The government is carrying out NGOs such as UNHCR, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, AFC Malteser, AZG and Care Myanmar for the development of women in this area.
As the Reproductive Health program has been initiated in Butheedaung and Maungdaw townships since 2005 by the MCH section of Department of Health with the assistance from UNFPA, it has been covering areas of safe mother hood, birth spacing, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and post abortion care and provision of reproductive commodities. Capacity building to the health staff has been carrying out for further improvement in knowledge and skill in providing RH services.
In addition Women's and Child Health Development Program from the Department of Health, Ministry of Health has implemented WCHD project in Butheedaung and Maungdaw townships since 2007 with the assistance of WHO and UNICEF. The program mainly provides essential newborn care services, Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses, Essential Obstetrics Care and Adolescent health care. Apart from the capacity building of health professionals both from public as well as private sector there is also provision of supplies and equipments such as Clean Delivery Kit, Auxiliary Midwife kit, tube and mask device, EOC equipments and essential drugs to these areas up till now. AMW trainings have also been conducting in these townships with the production of AMW to be helpful hands for the midwives in delivering services for the women and children in NRS.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health many International NGOs such as ACF, Malteser, AZG and Care Myanmar have been providing nutrition care to the women and children of Northern Rakhine State. For instance, ACF has been distributing food packets to the malnourished children identified by the midwives from the MCH center for management of severe protein energy malnutrition.
As regards health infrastructure, Butheedaung township has one 25 bedded hospital, one 16 bedded station hospital, one MCH center, six Rural Health Centers, 24 sub RHCs, and 4 private clinics and maternity homes covering over three hundred thousand population (2009). Maungdaw township has one 50 bedded hospital, 4 station hospitals, one MCH center, 7 RHCs and 28 Sub RHCs with additional 8 Private Clinics and Maternity Homes serving health care to a total population over five hundred thousand (2009). At the Butheedaung and Maungdaw townships in Northern Rakhine State, Township Health Departments are providing maternal and child health services, immunization services, nutrition, environmental sanitation, school health, communicable disease control and surveillance, health education and medical treatment using essential medicines.
For the health manpower in the public sector there is almost no vacancy at the two townships and most of the basic health workers being natives have become an advantage in provision of health service delivery to the communities.
Similarly, World Food Program has identified school girls with malnutrition to support rice bags.
Ministry of Health provides health services at the primary health care facilities at minimum or no cost. In order to provide financial protection for the poor, pro-poor health care approach and exemption mechanism is in place at township hospital level. The revolving drug funds and the interest of trust funds at the township hospitals are used for the poor patients by provision of free medicines. As well, the township health department works in collaboration with related sectors, National and International NGOs and many other stakeholders.
For education sector It have being carried out the advancement of education standard of Bengali women through the opening of University, Collages, high schools and basic education schools, conducting non-formal education programme, literacy programmes and providing vocational trainings in Rakhine State.
In the Rakhine State, an Arts and Science University, a University of Technology and a Computer University were opened in Sittwe. Moreover, an Education Colleage in Kyauk Phyu which is in the middle part of Rakhine State, (145) primary schools, 6 middle schools, high school in Butheetaung Township; 146 primary schools, 8 middle schools, 5 high schools in Maungtaw Township; 157 primary schools, 6 middle schools and 4 high schools in Yathaetaung Township have been opened.
According to the 2008-2009 data, in primary level, enrolment rate for girl is 98.63%, and 85.73% for boys; in the secondary level, enrolment rate fore girl is 25.85% and 31.51% for boys and in the high level, enrolment rate for girls is 18.57% and 22.12% for boys. The adult literacy rate is 87% for male and 80.96% for female. By looking at this it is found that women and children in Rakhine have the right to learn the basic education, higher education and advanced education.
Moreover, Ministry of Education is implementing Early Childhood Care and Development Project, life skills and HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Project in Bangali village with the collaboration of UNICEF. The literacy movement is also being carried out. Ministry of Education has being carried out the activities in basic education and non-formal education programme in this region. Especially, community development, literacy project and vocational training are being carried out.
The awareness raising on gender was conducted in cooperation with UNHCR for the reliance and management in Butheetaung and Maungtaw township in Nothern Rakhine State. UNFPA, UNDP and Care Myanmar promoted the quality of Bengali women from 103 Bengali villages in Butheetaung and Maungtaw Township by conducting the leadership, management and negotiation training, establishing self-help groups and doing the women to participate in community table.
Immigration and National Registration Department implemented Rehabilitation project in Nothern Rakhine State from 1st January, 1994 to 1st June, 2011 according to the MoU signed on 5th November, 1993. Transportation sector, support to achieve the needs of household, health and nutrition, educational support, providing vocational training for women, and providing legal advice to the sexually abused women have been carried out in collaboration with UNHCR.
It has being carried out to follow the provisions of Registration of persons Residing in Myanmar Act, 1952 for the smoothness and systematic controlling of the internal migration and travelling of any person who resides in Myanmar. The national ethnics who reside in Myanmar, the Myanmar nationality, foreigners and Bengali in Nothern Rakhine State have the responsibility to follow the rules and regulations enacted in the law.
In 2010, the total number of 762 persons; 314 women and 448 men, from Nothern Rakhine State, and the total number of 171 persons; 87 women and 104 men in 2011(up to February) travelled from one state to another State. Moreover, the total number of 447 persons; 184 women and 263 men visited the Saudiarabya to pay homage HAJ.
According to the social custom of the national ethnics who reside in Myanmar, there are not only the religion who practice monogamous but also polygamous. But Bengali tribes residing in Myanmar can marry up to three or four wives and bear up to 18 or 20 children. Thus, they have difficulty in fulfilling the basic needs of family. The social problems like the marriage with other wife have been frequently solved. Based on these social problems, the other unnecessary human rights issues and the crimes can be emerged. Thus, the responsible persons in village level have done the awareness raising programmes on practicing monogamy in order to prevent the obstacles in the basic needs of family and unnecessary social problems. Only the constructive supervision has being carried out to solve the oncoming problems at village level whether the women who want to marry is other people’s wife or not and not doing the marriage only when they got the permission from local authority.
The Republic of the Union of Myanmar is trying to meet the standards in the CEDAW Convention. It is obvious that Myanmar women is on the developing road. Due to the economic sanction laid down by the big countries, Myanmar, the less developing country, is carried out the activities on the development programmes for Myanmar women within the current situation of the State. Moreover, Myanmar is gaining the development momentum after transforming into democratic government system. The Republic of the Union of Myanmar can meet the norms prescribed in CEDAW Convention in the near future.