UNDP MDO

“Women in Myanmar are starting to see their future disappear before their eyes.” In a year fraught with challenges, Myanmar’s women have faced the confluence of a military takeover and the relentless grip of a pandemic. The increased violence against women has promoted a sense of insecurity.

Regressing gender equality in Myanmar

Women living under the pandemic and military rule

March 2022

“Women in Myanmar are starting to see their future disappear before their eyes.” In a year fraught with challenges, Myanmar’s women have faced the confluence of a military takeover and the relentless grip of a pandemic. The increased violence against women has promoted a sense of insecurity. Access to healthcare and trust in information have declined, adding to their burdens.

 
The “Women living under the pandemic and military rule” survey jointly conducted by the UNDP and UN women provided light on the struggles faced by women aged 18 and above during these times. Beyond income poverty, the survey captures the broader landscape of vulnerability at individual and family levels, highlighting layers of effect that require addressing. This alliance has generated much-needed data on the impact of the twin crises on the real-time socio-economic conditions of women, highlights the gendered nature of the pandemic and coup, and provides a solid foundation for designing gender-sensitive interventions.

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