Twelve foreign women who were rescued from Chinese-run scam compounds in Myawaddy Township, Karen State, have been found to be pregnant following sexual assault during their captivity. The victims are now seeking medical treatment in Thailand, according to the Civil Society Network for Assistance to Human Trafficking Victims (CSNAHTV). The network has confirmed that these women were among a larger group of trafficking victims who had been held against their will in various compounds operating fraudulent schemes in the border town.
Reports indicate that a total of 320 women, predominantly Ethiopian nationals, were trafficked into these criminal operations in Myawaddy. Among them, twelve women became pregnant as a result of sexual assault during their captivity, with one woman suffering a miscarriage on March 19. The situation has prompted urgent efforts to secure proper medical care and support for the pregnant women, who are now working with Thai authorities to access necessary healthcare services.
The women’s release came about following pressure from China on the Border Guard Force (BGF) and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), who subsequently retrieved the trafficking victims from the scam compounds. CSNAHTV coordinator Jay Krittaya has formally appealed to Thai authorities and the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and medical care for the pregnant women. The Thai National Human Rights Commission has responded by urging the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate with relevant embassies and consulates to provide assistance, while also calling on the National Security Council and the Ministries of Interior and Defense to ensure emergency medical treatment and care for the pregnant trafficking victims.
