Finland supports promotion of the rights of women and girls in Myanmar

Violence against women and girls is deeply rooted in Myanmar. Finland supports the initiative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to prevent violence against women and girls in conflict-affected regions in Myanmar.

One of the most important aims of Finland’s development policy is to promote the rights and position of women and girls. Since 2012 Finland has directed development cooperation funding to several initiatives in Myanmar that aim to promote the position of women and girls, among other objectives.

The youth who work in youth organisations say that the authorities may suspect even peaceful organisations of links to armed groups. The youth were emphatic that they want to contribute to solving problems. Photo: Silja Rajander/MFA

The UNFPA initiative is based on a model where counselling and support services to survivors of violence are integrated with sexual and reproductive health services for women. The aim is to develop practices and action plans to support access to services and to increase understanding among women and girls of their rights.

Another objective is to change attitudes that are harmful to women and girls.

The initiative extends to 19 displaced persons camps in Shan and Kachin states as well as to northern Rakhine where seven women’s clinics will be established.

The difficulty of returning home

Armed conflicts, both between government and ethnic armed forces and between different ethnic groups, have continued in northern Shan since 2011. A nationwide ceasefire agreement was reached in 2015, but armed conflicts still persist in Myanmar. Both the current and the previous government have, however, pushed for the peace process.

It is estimated that around 100,000 displaced persons live in camps in Shan and Kachin states.

Women and girls in the two camps in Kutkai in Shan state report that insecurity and domestic violence are common in the camps. Nearly 40 per cent of the population in Shan live below the poverty line; business opportunities are scarce and opium poppy cultivation widespread.

The camp in Kutkai is crowded, and people live in simple houses made of bamboo where each family has one room. When the monsoon starts, the trails between houses turn into mud baths. Photo: Silja Rajander/MFA

Women and young people say there is violence because the men have nothing to do and because drug and alcohol abuse is common.

Women in the camps say they are all hoping to return to their home villages as soon as possible, “if there is peace”.

Gender equality at the core of all the initiatives Finland is supporting

The ongoing political changes in Myanmar are opening up new opportunities to make progress in safeguarding the rights of women and girls.

In this task Finland’s support plays an important role. Apart from the UNFPA initiative, Finland supports the promotion of the rights of women through good governance by involving women in decision-making. Finland also strives to promote the peace process, and women and their special needs are taken into account in this work.

Finland also supports the provision of high-quality education that takes all special groups into account: this plays a key role in improving the position of women and girls and in mobilising men and boys for gender equality.

Non-governmental organisations, such as Finn Church Aid, Save the Children Finland and the Finnish Refugee Council, are also taking part in this work.

Finland also supports the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in its efforts to create alternative opportunities for income generation in former conflict-affected areas in southern Shan where opium poppy cultivation is at present the biggest single source of income. It is very important to involve women in this process, with due attention to their needs.

The development cooperation appropriations Finland has channelled to Myanmar amounted to around EUR 7 million in 2015 and to around EUR 8 million in 2016.

Silja Rajander

The author has worked as Senior Specialist at the Liaison Office of Finland in Yangon since August 2015. Her areas of responsibility include the education sector and the promotion of the position of women and girls.