Executive Summary: "This report reflects the results of WON?s research and interviews of women from ten of Myanmar?s states, who shared their experiences and struggles to vindicate their rights. As a party to CEDAW, Myanmar?s government has an obligation to protect and guarantee the rights of its female citizens in a variety of realms. Of particular concern to WON are Myanmar?s shortcomings in regard to its obligations under Articles 7, 12, and 14. In 2012, women comprised only 4.42% of Myanmar?s National Parliament. The 2015 election, however, raised that percentage to 14.5%. This shift demonstrates the potential for women to play a decisive role in governing the country. Nevertheless, women still face multiple barriers to political participation at the national, regional and local levels, including gender stereotypes, safety concerns, lack of education, and legal and economic barriers. To comply with the obligations of Article 7, the government must implement legal reforms and promote social change to allow women to exercise their rights to political participation. Access to health remains illusory for many — if not most — women in Myanmar. Clinics and hospitals are few and far between, particularly in rural areas. Women report that hospital care is unaffordable and of poor quality. Women concerned by issues of cost or travel often depend on midwives and traditional birth attendants for childbirth, and while there has been a decrease in Myanmar?s maternal mortality rate, it is still high compared to neighboring countries. Abortion also continues to be illegal in Myanmar, forcing many women to seek dangerous abortions that risk their health and lives. Women lack education on sex, birth control, STIs, and HIV/AIDS. All names used in this report and the annexed research report are pseudonyms. 6 Rural women suffer disproportionately from poverty, lack of access to healthcare and education, and unemployment . Poverty is a primary concern for most rural women, who lack employment opportunities and education . Addiction to drugs or alcohol is prevalent in many households, as is domestic violence. Poverty has also led to mass migration as individuals often leave to find work in other states or countries. In other instances, poverty has forced families to take on high - interest debt . Some women, in times of economic need, turn to sex work, an illegal profession in which they are often taken harassed or abused by police. Land grabbing, often perpetrated by the Government, has also become an increasing problem for rural women. The government must provide increased services and economic opportunities to rural populations, and foster an atmosphere in which women are protected from abuse."