Victims-selves say that Rohingya women in Rakhine have been subjected to sexual violence and abuse, but they do not receive effective protection and assistance.
The Rohingya women living in the Phweyarkone IDP camp in Sittwe Township, Rakhine state have been subjected to abuse for some time and they have filed complaints under the law, but they say it is ineffective.
“We have complained to the police. We have opened a case, but no effective action has been taken. We are the only ones who are being pressured and threatened. There is no one to protect and help us with real protection,” a Rohingya female victim told MPA.
Victims say that U Osman Gawni, who was in charge of the camp, forced molested 45 Rohingya women he liked from the Phweyarkon e IDP camp over a period of ten years from 2012 to August 2022.
In order to take action against the sexual violence and rape, they made complaints in person and in writing to officials of the INGO, NGO, and the State SAC, but no action was taken, so they said they filed a complaint with the help of the Rakhine civilian women’s Association to the police.
“We cannot condone this act completely. We could not say that more people could not be suffered. That is why we are working to take effective action under the law,” a member of the chair of the Rakhine Women’s Federation for Humanity – RWNHA, which is handling these cases, told MPA.
Among those Rohingya women are minors, disabled people, as well as married mothers of children, but due to forced threats and religious statements, only nine Rohingya women came to ask for help, Rakhine women’s organizations said.
Due to ethnic and religious conflicts in Rakhine state in 2012, more than 100,000 Rohingya have been living in temporary relief camps with insecurity and food difficulties since 2012. Among them, women are said to be using unsafe toilets and houses.
Photo – MPA (Caption – A Rohingya IDP camp in Sittwe Township)