Female prisoners in Myanmar have faced extensive torture, sexual violence, and critical medical neglect, according to a report released Wednesday by Human Rights Watch. The New York-based organization highlighted the severe mistreatment of women detainees amid ongoing conflict and political turmoil following the military coup in February 2021.

Since the coup, which ousted the civilian government, Myanmar has been engulfed in a prolonged civil war that has killed approximately 100,000 people and displaced over 3.5 million. The report states that more than 30,000 political prisoners have been detained since the military takeover, including over 6,600 women and 640 children. Among those imprisoned is former leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Bryony Lau, Asia deputy director for Human Rights Watch, described the prison system as one where suffering and neglect are systematic. The group’s findings are based on interviews conducted in 2025 and 2026 with 17 former female detainees representing activists, journalists, aid workers, healthcare providers, and their relatives. These women reported being prosecuted under various criminal laws imposed after the coup, including a strict counter-terrorism statute targeting dissent.

According to the testimonies, prisoners were subjected to beatings with metal rods, chains, sticks, and slingshots, as well as electric shocks, cigarette burns, enforced stress positions, and sexual violence. Prison authorities also routinely denied access to medical care, even for serious conditions and during pregnancy. Some women described being forced to give birth in cells without proper medical supervision; one former detainee recounted how, after her water broke late at night, a hospital referral letter only arrived ten hours later, and she was immediately shackled following delivery.

The report’s claims echo findings from a 2025 United Nations investigation that documented widespread torture in Myanmar’s detention centers, including systemic sexual violence such as gang rapes and mutilation.

Reuters earlier reported that at least 74 political prisoners between the ages of 18 and 35 have died in custody since the military assumed power, with inadequate medical care and harsh interrogation tactics cited as contributing factors. The military government, which assumed office following a disputed election in late 2025 allowing former junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to become president, did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations.

Human Rights Watch’s report underscores the ongoing human rights crisis within Myanmar’s prison system, as political repression and armed conflict continue to impact thousands of detainees, particularly women and children.