THE Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement introduced its draft law for Protection and Prevention of Violence Against Women to the Hluttaw representatives at Horizon Lake View Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Deputy Speaker U Tun Tun Hein made an opening remark at the ceremony, saying that Myanmar, as a member of UN human rights committee, signed the Convention on the Elimination of the All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW); although Myanmar has cultural, religious and social practices to protect gender discrimination, the domestic violence is scarcely seen as human right abuses. Due to the absence of relevant law, most of the Myanmar women are not under the legal protection from violence.
The CEDAW committee sent back 56 recommendations on the reports of Myanmar, with remarks to enact a law for protection and prevention of violence against women and to review laws and regulations that can cause gender discrimination.
Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye explained that his ministry is taking the major role to draft the law in coordination with the national women committee, and the draft law was designed to align with the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Elimination of Violence against Women (EVAW).
The Union Minister added that as member of UN member country, a joint communique was signed between the United Nations and Myanmar to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence.
He also asked for advises of Hluttaw representatives on the draft law which includes offences and penalties to protect the women as it is aimed for the whole women community.
After the presentation of Director-General of the Department of Social Welfare, the Hluttaw representatives made discussions on the draft law.
MNA
(Translated by Aung Khin)
Photo: MNA
Ref: The Global New Light of Myanmar