Yadanar was aboard a crowded bus on the way to the hospital where she was doing her internship, when she felt someone touch the lower part of her back.
The 22-year-old medical student froze.
“I turned around in shock,” she recalled. “I realized I was being sexually harassed.”
“I asked for help by loudly saying that that guy is harassing me,” she said.
But what happened next shocked her even more.
Not one person in the crowd stood up for her, and the assailant got out of the bus at the next stop as if nothing happened.
What happened to Yadanar is not uncommon in Myanmar,
When she shared her story with me, I become inquisitive about how many girls have experienced sexual harassment in public places, such as in buses and trains.
I decided to conduct a small survey on some of the women in my vicinity. Just a simple question: Have you ever experienced sexual harassment while going about your daily business?
The responses from the girls were heartbreaking -- but not, I admit, unexpected.
Out of 100 women I contacted, more than 80 have had the horrible experience of being sexually harassed.
A decade ago in Myanmar, women who faced sexual harassment dared not speak about it. But after social movements and encouragement from women’s organisations, Myanmar women are now speaking up, and addressing the issue squarely.
Still, one thing that hasn’t changed is society in general -- which seems either oblivious or apathetic about the problem.
“One of the biggest challenges is social acceptance of sexual harassment, and the lack of response to harassment in our midst”, says Janet Jackson, UNFPA Representative for Myanmar. “We must all take a stand to end the impunity a gender inequality, which allow sexual harassment to continue on such a widespread scale.”
Daw Zin Mar Aung, the parliamentarian of the Pyithu Hluttaw, also agreed that the problem lies within society.
The woman legislator believes that social awareness – of men as well as women – will be more effective than legal action in fighting harassment.
“Committing sexual harassment is the most embarrassing thing. Running campaigns that involve both men and women, and sending that particular massage to society, would be the most effective way to stop it,” she told The Myanmar Times.
Myanmar already has strong laws sexual harassment, according to Daw Htar Htar , the director and founder of the Akhaya women Myanmar. The problem, she says, is that enforcement is “very weak”.
“Even in the rare cases where legal action was taken, the offenders often ended up paying a small fine,” she said.
Daw Htar Htar cites a case that happened a couple years ago in South Dagon where the court sentenced the accused to pay a fine of 50 Kyats (four US cents).
Sexual harassment is part of a bigger picture of female empowerment.
“In Myanmar, only 50.5% of women of working age are economically active, compared to 85.2% of men. Harassment of any sort, and especially sexual harassment, on public transportation can contribute to women’s economic marginalization and undermine their sense of dignity”, says Janet Jackson.
The UNFPA suggests that a dedicated helpline should be established for reporting harassment and getting help. It also recommends that drivers and conductors of trains and buses should become competent authorities that can intervene and take action when incidents occur.
Yadanar can only hope that sexual harassment will become less frequent, and that women who suffer it can stand up to their assailants, just as she did -- and receive more support.
(Story by Shoon Naing in the Myanmar Times.)