Nu Nu Thar

(pseudonym)

Since the violence in 2012, I have been confined to a camp for displaced Rohingya and Kaman communities. We face a lot of challenges as women in the camps. Women are restricted by their husbands from going outside to do community work, and many of them, as a result, don’t know they can be leaders too.

I try my best to help women and act whenever I can. Underage marriage has happened here. I helped mediate with the parents of the children and provide training to the parents about the rights of children and women.

I didn’t know about CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women) but it has really encouraged me to keep going because now I know there are international movements like this. I have so much more confidence after learning about it.

I didn’t know I had the power within me. Now my mission is to encourage other women to have the confidence to be leaders. I’m one of the camp management committee leaders. I want to try and create space for women to be elected.

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