Sagaing Region recorded the highest fatalities of women in 2024, with 109 deaths. Artillery shelling, airstrikes, and sexual violence are among the primary causes, underscoring the military’s continued war crimes and crimes against humanity.
BY PC Bureau
In 2024, a grim tally of 478 women lost their lives due to violence perpetrated by Myanmar’s military forces, commonly referred to as “military terrorists” by the Burmese Women’s Union (BWU). The organization’s latest statement, released ahead of the fourth anniversary of the February 1, 2021, military coup attempt, sheds light on the continuing crisis that has ravaged the nation.
The BWU highlights that since the coup attempt, the military has committed widespread and severe human rights violations, including war crimes and crimes against humanity. Women have borne a particularly heavy toll, with fatalities and injuries resulting from targeted attacks, sexual violence, and other abuses.
Breakdown of 2024 Fatalities The data, meticulously collected and monitored by BWU from reliable media sources, reveals the following:
- Artillery Shelling: 142 women were killed as the military targeted civilian homes and villages.
- Airstrikes: 257 women lost their lives due to aerial bombardments.
- Extrajudicial Killings: 66 women were killed without justification by military forces.
- Land Mines: 7 women died from land mine explosions.
- Sexual Violence: 6 women lost their lives due to conflict-related sexual violence.
- Execution: 1 woman was executed by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).
In addition, 412 women were wounded in 2024:
- Artillery Shelling: 152 women were injured.
- Airstrikes: 191 women were wounded in aerial bombardments.
- Land Mines: 42 women suffered injuries from land mines.
- Extrajudicial Killings: 10 women were injured during attempted killings.
- Sexual Violence: 12 women sustained physical injuries related to sexual violence.
- Torture: 5 women were tortured while in prison.
LINK: Burma women.pdf
Regional Disparities Sagaing Region recorded the highest number of women fatalities in 2024, with 109 deaths. Other regions and states also saw significant loss of life:
- Shan State: 92 deaths
- Rakhine State: 83 deaths
- Mandalay Region: 67 deaths
The figures underscore the widespread nature of the military’s violence, affecting various regions across the country. Despite BWU’s efforts to monitor and document these atrocities, the organization notes that the actual figures are likely much higher, given the challenges of accessing data in conflict zones.
Context and Background :The military’s attempted coup on February 1, 2021, marked the beginning of a period of relentless violence and instability in Myanmar. Protests against the coup were met with brutal crackdowns, leading to widespread armed resistance and escalating conflict. Over the past four years, the military has employed increasingly ruthless tactics to suppress dissent, including targeted attacks on civilians, aerial bombardments, and systemic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.
Women in Myanmar have been disproportionately affected by the ongoing crisis. Beyond fatalities, they face significant risks of displacement, sexual violence, and other human rights abuses. The BWU’s data serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for international attention and intervention to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country.
The Burmese Women’s Union has called on the international community to hold the Myanmar military accountable for its crimes and to support efforts to protect civilians, particularly women, in conflict-affected regions. Without immediate action, the cycle of violence and impunity is likely to persist, with devastating consequences for the people of Myanmar.
