Nearly 2,000 women killed in Myanmar since 2021 military coup, AAPP reports

At least 1,986 women, including 373 girls under the age of 18, have been killed by the regime since it seized power during a military coup on Feb. 1, 2021, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) on Thursday.

“Women have been deliberately targeted by the junta through killings, arbitrary arrest, sexual violence, torture, and other grave human rights violations,” stated the AAPP, a group founded by former Myanmar political prisoners in neighbouring Thailand.

The AAPP went on to state that 75 percent of the total number of women killed was by airstrikes and heavy weaponry used by the military against civilians. The remaining 25 percent of victims were killed by arson, shootings, and sexual violence, as well murder, torture, and health complications while held in regime detention.

Women aged 18 to 35 constitute the largest single group at 24 percent of the total number killed, followed by those under 18 years-old at 23.8 percent. This means that nearly half of all female victims were under 35 years of age.