Yangon, Myanmar - The UN Resident Coordinator in Myanmar condemns in the strongest terms the killing of U Ko Ni who was shot dead at the Yangon airport on 29 January, 2017 and expresses her sincerest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of U Ko Ni. She also condemns the killing of U Nay Win who made a heroic attempt to apprehend the assailant, extends her heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and co-workers, and salutes his bravery and sacrifice.

Gender-based violence is a silent emergency in Myanmar. There is groping on buses, harassment, cyber exploitation, date rape, trafficking and more. And there is domestic violence. Marital rape is still not a crime in Myanmar, and this testifies to the high level of acceptance in the country of violence against women. The problem needs to be addressed on all fronts. Not least in areas where there is armed conflict and where families struggle under the additional stress of having lost their homes and livelihoods.

YANGON, Myanmar — While the total fertility rate in Myanmar is 2.5 children per woman, and on par with ASEAN averages, new and more detailed data tell a very different story: Married women in Myanmar give birth to five children on average. Married women in Chin give birth to nine children on average, compared to four in Yangon. The findings come from the 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census Thematic Report on Fertility and Nuptiality.

Three cartoonists have won top awards at a cartoon competition in Myanmar on the occasion of the 2016 International Women’s Day. The competition aims at raising awareness about issues such as women and health, violence against women, and women and emergencies.

Top winners – Tun Tun Win, Sithu Swe and Wai Yan (Taunggyi) – were presented with first, second and third prizes, along with the other eight cartoonists, who were awarded with consolation prizes during the awards ceremony held in Yangon on 7 March.

UNFPA Myanmar has published a report of its activities in 2013 and 2014. The report is the first of its kind since UNFPA established a presence in the country in 1973. The report showcases UNFPA Myanmar’s results in enhancing policy dialogue, advocacy, knowledge creation and capacity building. We have worked to deliver more equitable development outcomes by empowering young people, promoting gender equality and improving access to sexual and reproductive health services.

Myanmar – Poverty, conflict and a lack of job opportunities is feeding a downward spiral of drug abuse, despondency and violence against women in the north-eastern state of Shan.

Shan is part of the remote, opium producing ‘golden triangle’ that straddles Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. The 6 million strong, conflict-affected region produces over 90 per cent of Myanmar’s opium.

“Drugs are cheap and there is simply nothing else to do," explains Tin Muang, a local man whose name is changed to protect him.