Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Rights group reports torture and neglect of Myanmar female prisoners
Human Rights Watch released a report about women held in Myanmar’s prisons.
The group said many female political prisoners were beaten and mistreated.
Some women reportedly experienced electric shocks, burns and sexual violence.
Former prisoners also said guards sometimes denied people important medical care.
Pregnant prisoners were allegedly left without proper help and some gave birth in their cells.
The report was based on interviews with 17 former detainees.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the accounts.
The allegations resemble findings in an earlier United Nations report.
Myanmar’s military-backed government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Human Rights Watch says female political prisoners in Myanmar face torture, sexual violence and severe medical neglect.
The group based its findings on interviews with 17 former female detainees conducted in 2025 and 2026.
Former prisoners described beatings, electric shocks, cigarette burns, stress positions and sexual violence in detention.
Prison authorities allegedly denied necessary medical care, including to pregnant women who sometimes gave birth inside cells.
More than 6,600 women and 640 children are reportedly among over 30,000 political prisoners detained since the 2021 coup.
- Who
- Human Rights Watch reported allegations from 17 former female detainees, including activists, journalists, aid and health workers, relatives and lawyers.
- What
- The rights group said female political prisoners face torture, sexual violence and life-threatening medical neglect in Myanmar detention facilities.
- When
- The report was published on September 23; the interviews were conducted in 2025 and 2026.
- Where
- Myanmar.
- Why
- Human Rights Watch said the reported abuses reflect deliberate and routine suffering and neglect in the prison system.
- Reporting organization
- Human Rights Watch
- Interviewees
- 17 former female detainees
- Political prisoners
- More than 30,000 people detained since the February 2021 coup, including more than 6,600 women and 640 children
- Alleged abuses
- Beatings, electric shocks, cigarette burns, stress positions, sexual violence and denial of medical care
- Pregnant detainees
- Former prisoners said some pregnant women were denied medical care and gave birth inside cells
- Independent verification
- Reuters could not independently verify the former detainees’ accounts
- Related findings
- A United Nations report in 2025 also documented torture in Myanmar detention facilities