Equality Myanmar News

The fight for your rights

Myanmar’s human rights commission has a credibility problem — but critics argue that it can’t be solved by simply replacing its current members. By HEIN KO SOE | FRONTIER TOOTHLESS. Ineffective. Weak. Since its formation in 2011,…

Burma: US Should Retain Key Sanctions

Democratic Reforms at Risk Without Continued Pressure on Military (Washington, DC) – The US government should keep in place sanctions on Burma to deter the Burmese military from derailing democratic reforms, Human Rights Watch said…

Civil Society Demands Burma Army Halt Offensives

RANGOON —113 Burmese civil society groups have demanded that the Burma Army halt offensives against ethnic armed groups, and that a ceasefire be mutually agreed before the 21st Century Panglong Conference begins on Wednesday in Naypyidaw. The…

Abused at home, Myanmar women failed by law and traditions

By Ei Cherry Aung YANGON (Myanmar Now) – Last month, Phyu Phyu made a life-changing decision that few women in Myanmar dare to take in her situation: the 38-year-old mother of two left the family home in Yangon’s Thingangyun Township…

Inside the world of male sex workers

The well-dressed father of two earns good money. He speaks English and works for an international NGO that combats HIV/AIDS. He used to be a sex worker, a man who has sex with other men, and then became a government informer, reporting back…

Rights Group Calls on Myanmar Government to Try Soldiers in Civilian Courts

An international rights group called on the Myanmar government on Wednesday to try national army soldiers who killed five unarmed civilians in volatile northern Shan state last month in a civilian court to ensure justice for victims of human…

Human Rights Tattoos

To highlight the importance of human rights, three Burmese tattoo artists are tattooing letters from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 120 participants in Pansodan Scene in Rangoon from June 17 to 18 between 10am and 6pm. This human…

UN Envoy Says New Government in Myanmar Faces Many Rights Problems

The same day that Myanmar’s parliament voted in the first president without a military background in more than half a century, the United Nations held an open dialogue on the latest report submitted by its human rights envoy to the country,…

Tatmadaw releases 46 child soldiers

By Wa Lone   |   Monday, 14 March 2016 The Tatmadaw has freed 46 child soldiers, the latest trickle of underage recruits to be released from the armed forces. State media showed pictures of the released recruits reuniting with family…

Ranks of Burma’s PR Holders Modest but Growing

By TIN HTET PAING / THE IRRAWADDY| Saturday, March 12, 2016 RANGOON — Burma’s Ministry of Immigration and Population has issued more than 170 permanent residency (PR) certificates to successful applicants while nearly 100 additional applications…