The growing number of missing teenage girls in Mon State has heightened concern among families.
Although some of the missing girls have been found, it is reported that their physical and mental health has been severely affected.
In June, at least five girls aged between 14 and 19 went missing from Mawlamyine and Chaungzon townships. Some of them were later found in late June and early July.
Among those found, some showed signs of physical assault, and due to psychological trauma, they were unable to speak with their parents.
“She’s constantly startled. She runs away when she sees people. She came back in a bad state—barefoot and disoriented. Her parents can’t even ask her what happened,” said a Mawlamyine resident close to one of the girls.
Families say that police forces under the military council’s control have taken no real action on these cases except for recording complaints. As a result, family members are left to conduct the searches themselves.
Locals suspect that the missing persons cases may be linked to human trafficking networks and sexual violence. Information indicates that recruitment through online job ads and drug use may also be contributing factors behind the disappearances.
While CCTV cameras have been installed along major roads and shopping centers as part of local security efforts, they have not yet provided any useful evidence related to the missing girls.
With the difficulty of identifying hidden trafficking networks and the lack of response from military authorities, the situation has become a growing social crisis in Mon State.
On May 27, a 13-year-old girl from Kawksein Island, near Mawlamyine, was sexually assaulted and murdered. That case further intensified public anxiety.
Women’s rights activists and human rights organizations continue to urge authorities to take greater responsibility in responding to these disappearances and to provide treatment and support for the victims who have suffered both physically and mentally.
