1. The date of establishment of the Myanmar National Committee on Women, 3 July, was designated as “Myanmar Women’s Day” by the State. More than half of Myanmar’s population are women, and they are valuable human resources for the nation. Women have equal rights as men and are entitled to participate in political, economic, social, civil, and cultural spheres without any discrimination.

2. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that women are entitled to equal rights as men. Likewise, the Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (2008) guarantees women’s rights. As Myanmar respects and recognizes women’s rights, it acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which is one of the international human rights conventions, in 1997 and has been fulfilling and protecting women’s rights.

3. The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, in its human rights promotion activities, incorporates the rights of pregnant women, disabled women and girls. Furthermore, the Commission, in accordance with the Commission Law, protects women’s rights in handling complaints, conducting inspections of prisons, labour camps, police detention centres, court detention centres, homes for the aged, vocational training centres for women, training schools for the girls, women development centres, and send recommendations to relevant departments.

4. Since the theme of International Women’s Day 2024 is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”, the Commission urges for the enhancement of women’s participation in all sectors for the socioeconomic development of the nation while the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission honours and welcomes Myanmar Women’s Day, which falls on 3 July.

Myanmar National Human Rights Commission

Date: 2 July 2024

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