Myanmar junta subjects women political prisoners to torture and medical neglect

A report by Human Rights Watch states that the Myanmar military junta is systematically subjecting women political prisoners to torture, sexual violence, and the life-threatening denial of medical care. Since the February 2021 coup, authorities have detained more than 30,000 political prisoners, including approximately 6,600 women and 640 children.

Testimonies from former detainees, family members, and legal advocates describe severe beatings, rape, and squalid living conditions. Pregnant inmates have reportedly faced the dangerous denial of essential prenatal and obstetric care. Many women, including activists, journalists, and healthcare workers, were prosecuted under broad laws such as Penal Code section 505A and the Counter-Terrorism Law to suppress dissent.

Human Rights Watch researchers interviewed former prisoners and advocates regarding abuses in 11 interrogation centers and prisons. The report highlights that suffering and neglect within the prison system are both deliberate and routine, leaving survivors with long-term physical and psychological trauma.