Ma Shar Mel lived years of her childhood in a refugee camp. She was only 14 years old when she had to stop school and get married. With the support from FRC and its local partner organization in Myanmar, Ma Shar Mel could divorce her violent husband and is now learning how to sow to make a living.
Myanmar has faced decades of conflict between the country’s army and armed groups of different ethnic minorities. Conflicts have been fuelled for instance by discrimination, inequality and unresolved disputes between the state and ethnic minorities. Villages have fallen under cross-fire, they have been destroyed in fighting or burned.Instability has driven hundreds of thousands of people to flee, both internally and across the borders to neighbouring countries.
A large proportion of ethnic minorities live in the border regions of Kayah, Shan, Kachin and Rakhine. These regions are particularly vulnerable to conflict, instability and poverty. Myanmar has more than 350,000 internally displaced persons, most of whom reside in temporary camps within their state. Yet, hundreds of thousands live in refugee camps in Myanmar’s neighbouring countries Thailand and Bangladesh.
Nearly 100,000 refugees from the Kayah region live in refugee camps in Thailand. Some have lived in these camps for over 30 years. As a general rule refugees are not allowed to move outside the camp and working opportunities within the camp are limited or even non-existent. The decline in international aid is exacerbating the predicament of refugees even further.
Refugee women are in a particularly vulnerable position. Poverty affects almost all women as their employment prospects are particularly poor.
Refugee women are in a particularly vulnerable position. Poverty affects almost all women as their employment prospects are particularly poor.
In addition, women living in areas of conflict or in refugee camps are at a higher risk of becoming victims of domestic violence as traumatized or frustrated men direct their anger to their closest relatives. There are not enough official policy and procedures to prevent domestic violence, and the financial status of women prevents many from getting out of their violent marriage.
19-year-old Ma Shar Mel has unfortunately experienced many of the hardships affecting women in Myanmar. Ma Shar Mel belongs to the Karen minority and is originally from Kayah region. Her family had to flee to Thailand nine years ago and have since been living in a refugee camp near the Myanmar border.
Ma Shar Mel has attended school until the seventh grade. Even if the she wanted to go to school, a family of 12 could not afford it without a stable income. Without the opportunity to continue school, Ma Shar Mel married at the age of 14. Her husband was violent and the young wife struggled with her marriage for a few years.
Without the opportunity to continue school, Ma Shar Mel married at the age of 14. Her husband was violent and the young wife struggled with her marriage for a few years.
Eventually the situation became intolerable and Ma Shar Mel decided to leave her husband. She heard about Finnish Refugee Council’s women’s shelter run in collaboration with a local women’s organization which gave her an opportunity she didn’t know existed.
Ma Shar Mel moved into the shelter temporarily and received legal advice on filing for divorce. While living in the shelter, Ma Shar Mel also heard about the Finnish Refugees Council’s sewing course for vulnerable women and decided to apply. The course provides women with sewing skills which enable them to earn a living by sewing.
“The course is a really effective way to support us. I’ve never had such an opportunity in my life,” Ma Shar Mel says, highlighting the importance of the course.
“The course is a really effective way to support us. I’ve never had such an opportunity in my life,” Ma Shar Mel says, highlighting the importance of the course.
Support our work in Myanmar
One of the main goals of the Finnish Refugee Council in Myanmar is to improve the livelihoods of women fleeing internally and in conflict areas, and to educate local authorities and communities on women’s rights and the prevention of sexual and physical violence against women.
Our operations have previously been concentrated in Kayah State, but we are now expanding our operations to Shan and Kachin States. These regions have more than 100,000 internally displaced persons and numbers are expected to increase. By supporting our work, you can ensure that women growing up in areas of conflict can avoid violence in the future and have the opportunity to make their own decisions about their lives.