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New Mon State Party attends Geneva Call workshop for prevention of Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict

On April 25-26^th, the New Mon State Party (NMSP) held a two-day sexual violence workshop on the Thai-Burmese border, conducted by the non-government organization Geneva Call. The objective of the workshop was to highlight international law surrounding sexual violence, and to have members of the NMSP sign Geneva Call’s “Deed of Commitment”, which prohibits sexual violence and gender discrimination in armed conflict. Twenty-five members of NMSP attended the workshop.

The workshop administrator notes that human rights abuse and sexual violence are still being committed by various armed groups involved in the conflict in Burma, and the head of NMSP’s Foreign Affairs Department, Nai Hong Sa Boung Khine, notes that there is a large gap between the rule of law found in Burma, and that governing international law.

Nai Hong Sa Boung Khine added that there is some difference in Geneva Call’s Deed of Commitment, and ideals of the NMSP, noting that if other NMSP members agree to the commitment, they will sign it.

The workshop administrator notes that the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Chin National Front (CNF) have already signed the Deed of Commitment.

The Mon Women’s Organization (MWO) had previously facilitated a two-day workshop on Geneva Call’s Deed of Commitment, which was held on February 19-20, 2014. The workshop was held on the Thai-Burma border, and focused on the importance of Armed Non-State Actors (ANSAs) in conflict zones to agree to a “Deed of Commitment”, in order to prohibit sexual violence and gender discrimination. This workshop was attended by community-based organizations from the border, as well as organization from inside Burma.

Five Iranian Kurdish ANSAs were the first to sign Geneva Call’s Deed of Commitment to prohibit sexual violence and discrimination. In 2012, the Karenni National Progressive Party/Karenni Army (KNPP/KA) and the New Mon State Party/Mon National Liberation Army (NMSP/MNLA) were the first ANSAs from Burma to sign the Deed of Commitment protecting children in areas of armed conflict.

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