Sex trafficking in Myanmar

Sex trafficking in Myanmar is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slavery that occurs in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Myanmar is primarily a source and transit country for sexually trafficked persons.^[1]

Sex trafficking victims in the country are from all ethnic groups in Myanmar and foreigners. Myanmar citizens, primarily women and girls, have been sex trafficked into other countries in Asia and different continents. They are forced into prostitution, marriages, and or pregnancies.^[2] Sex trafficked victims are physically and psychologically harmed.^[3][4] They contract sexually transmitted diseases from rapes, and abuse and malnutrition are common. Some women and girls are tortured and or murdered.

Sex trafficking and exploitation is spread throughout all levels of Myanmar society. Male and female perpetrators in Myanmar come from diverse backgrounds. A number of traffickers are members of or facilitated by criminal organizations. Some government officials, troops, and police, as well as foreigners, have been complicit in sex trafficking in Myanmar.^{[5] [6][7]}

The magnitude of sex trafficking in Myanmar is difficult to know because of the lack reporting and data, the secretive nature of sex trafficking crimes, and other factors.^[4] The enforcement of sex trafficking laws and investigating and prosecuting of cases have been hindered by conflict, political instability, land confiscation, poor border management,^[8] corruption, and indifference.^[3][9] The government of Myanmar has not made significant efforts in reducing sex trafficking.^[7] The internal conflict in Myanmar has caused an increase in sex trafficking.^[5][4] Myanmar armed forces operations' in several areas of the country continue to displace many Rohingya and members of other ethnic groups, making them vulnerable to sex trafficking.^[7][10]