11. Protection for Whom? Violations of International Law in Myanmar's New 'Race and Religion Protection' Laws
- Author:
- Chloé White
- Publication Date:
- 01-2015
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS)
- Abstract:
- In recent years, Myanmar has undergone a significant political transformation. In 2011, after nearly sixty years of iron-fisted rule, the governing military junta transferred power to a quasicivilian government.1 The new government has undertaken various political and economic reforms2 and has become a signatory to and ratified several international treaties.3 In response, the United States, the European Union and others have opened up relations with the country and eased sanctions.4 Despite these advances, however, Myanmar has several obstacles to overcome before it can be considered a pluralistic, functioning democracy. The analysis here focuses on two issues of concern: discrimination against minority ethnic and religious groups, particularly Muslims, and discrimination against women, and how the two have intertwined in dangerous new state policy. Myanmar president Thein Sein recently signed into law a set of four bills that exemplify the challenges facing the country. 5 These new laws are allegedly aimed at ‘preserving race and religion,’ but have a clear goal of discriminating against Muslims and other non-Buddhist groups by, in part, reinforcing traditional gender stereotypes. 6 The group of bills, first proposed in 2013 by the anti-Muslim Association for the Protection of Race and Religion (known as Ma Ba Tha) and supported by a petition supposedly signed by 1.3 million people,7 consists of legislation to outlaw polygamy and adultery, regulate religious conversions, restrict the marriage of Buddhist women to non-Buddhist men, and institute population control measures.8 While some of the provisions of these bills may seem innocuous, the timing of their passage, shortly before the November 2015 elections,9 and the surrounding rhetoric by ultra-nationalists belie any ostensibly benign motives. These initiatives could, both as passed and in practice, further exacerbate religious, ethnic and gender strife, violate both the Burmese constitution as well as international norms and obligations, and pose a particular threat to women’s health and empowerment.
- Topic:
- International Law, Politics, Women, Discrimination, and Rohingya
- Political Geography:
- Southeast Asia and Myanmar