Decades of on-gong conflict between different armed groups in areas of Northern Shan State (NSS) has had a devastating impact on affected populations. There are currently around 7,100 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in NSS residing in both government and non-government controlled IDP camps. Against a backdrop of continued fighting, for the majority of IDPs a safe return home remains a remote possibility.
Displacement has resulted in a lack of access to livelihoods for affected populations, forcing many of the men to seek work away from their families. Their prolonged absence has a profound effect on the safety and security of women and girls. While the statistical data on gender-based violence (GBV) in NSS is as limited as it is in other parts of Myanmar, recent reports indicate that GBV, including sexual violence, are a constant fear and threat. This is especially so when families are cooped up in tight living spaces, when women and girls may spend long periods alone in their shelters when the men are away checking on their villages, when the men are working away from the camp, when women and girls go out to fetch firewood or when young women seek jobs.
Added to this, there is an urgent need for strengthened reproductive health (RH) programmes, including maternal health care and family planning. Many areas lack skilled health personnel and have insufficient RH commodities. Women lack information on what’s on offer in terms of choices. Parents feel they are failing their children and worry when they cannot afford to pay for extra tuition. Mothers feel helpless when their children are lured into substance abuse. “Education”, said one women, “is very important for our people”.
From the 16th to 18th May, UNFPA facilitated a Joint Mission with Donors from Australia, Finland, Italy, and Sweden to NSS. This was so that they could see first-hand the current context and situation through interaction and discussions with various community groups. This will help to shape a more effective and integrated sexual and reproductive health and GBV strategy for the implementation of the Women and Girl’s First Programme (WGFP) in NSS. The pouring rain did not dampen the camp manager’s enthusiasm in welcoming five representatives from four donor countries; the first such visitors to the camp in the last four years. Women, at first shy, soon warmed up and began to speak in small groups, sharing their worries, their concerns and their hopes.
UNFPA’s Women and Girls First Programme (WGFP) aims to support the development of national policies responsive to the needs of women and girls, building on the existing National Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Women (NSPAW) (2013-2022) and enable the increased access of women and girls to a comprehensive, rights-based and integrated package of RH and GBV services. Silje Rajander of the Embassy of Finland who joined the Mission said: “We are here because we want to make a difference. Investing in women and girls is critical to achieve change.”
UNFPA has adopted an integrated RH and GBV strategy for NSS, which uses existing RH services as an entry point for GBV survivors. This approach aims to address the sensitive nature of and the stigma associated with GBV. It also aims to reduce the risk of reprisals, capitalizing on communities’ relationships with RH service providers and their trust in GBV case managers. This also avoids initial start-up costs often associated with establishing women and girls’ centres, thereby supporting wider coverage. Currently 15 mobile clinics are operational in NSS, providing RH and GBV services. In addition, an initial GBV referral pathway has been designed by UNFPA together with the NSS-based local and international humanitarian community. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the Karuna Myanmar Social Services (KMSS) have been critical to the support given so far. The WGF initiative will aim to strengthen and expand this.
The realities, complexities and vulnerabilities of displaced communities who are caught up in the daily conflict, were all the more stark given the number of villages that have been scattered and the protracted nature of the displacement. “It’s unimaginable…” said Maria Pia Dradi from the Italian Development Cooperation Agency, “and the main support has been mostly local, enabling families to survive and look ahead towards eventual peace, security and sustainable development”.
During the three day visit, donors, the UN, INGO and NGO partners visited Lashio and Kutkhai, where they met with communities from five different camps, including many civil society organization (CSO) groups, women’s organizations, international humanitarian groups and the local authorities. Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency’s Ann Stodberg called for the local authorities to play an active coordination role so that partnerships can become stronger, and so that the local government can capitalize on the support of partners and maximize the benefit of this for the affected communities; most of whom are from isolated, remote and hard-to-reach villages. This, she said, would help bring a sense of security and protection for those who are especially vulnerable.
For Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade two representatives – Linda Gellard and Esther Perry - speaking to so many different groups, and in particular young people, provided them with first-hand accounts for better advocacy. This will not only address on-going humanitarian needs and understanding of the implications of the peace process on the ground, but also help in conveying the complexity and unpredictability of the conflict and the many forms of insecurities that this brings, especially to women and girls.
Janet E. Jackson, UNFPA Country Representative, said: “Communities themselves have been at the frontline of the emergency response effort from the outset. And it is through them, especially through the women and young people, that peace can be made in the home, in the community and ultimately in society, despite the reality of lives, relationships and homes having been torn apart by years of war”. UNFPA acknowledged the huge and selfless contribution provided by many local voluntary, and faith based-organizations, that have been assisting with food, shelter, clothing, health care and education, and most of all building resilience and a desire for peace and reconciliation. “Reproductive health and preventing gender-based violence are at the very core of peace building. These are critical for lasting progress and the rebuilding of communities”, said Janet Jackson.
