Mahbub Alam minar

September 22, 2025, Dhaka Post Desk

Ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA2025) high-level week, Rohingya activist Wai Wai Nu joined women leaders from Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Syria to highlight the plight of women in Myanmar. She stated, “For decades, Myanmar’s military has used rape as a weapon of war, and women continue to face sexual and gender-based violence in conflict zones.”

Wai Wai Nu emphasized that although women’s perspectives are often overlooked in conflict situations, they continue to take on crucial roles as first responders and mediators within their communities. “We must recognize that women are not only victims but also play multiple roles and carry immense burdens during conflict and atrocities,” she noted.

Calling for urgent measures, she said, “It is critical to ensure the protection of women in Myanmar, including in prisons, war zones, refugee camps, and IDP camps. We need to establish a national action plan on women, peace, and security, guaranteeing women’s participation in governance and decision-making processes both now and in the future.”

Highlighting the shared struggles, Wai Wai Nu added, “From Karen women to Rohingya women, we must continue to work in solidarity to achieve our common goal of justice and equality.”