[{"bbox": [96, 153, 1135, 367], "category": "Text", "text": "disputes¹¹. In this context, the informal sector has become increasingly relevant. Community leaders are identified as the primary justice actors citizens go to for justice functions. This is particularly true for civil justice day-to-day issues, in particular family law (such as divorce, child custody and inheritance), land disputes, debts or drug related cases. More serious and criminal offences are usually referred to the formal system. Informal justice service provision is however also experiencing serious challenges and disruption given the ongoing conflict and general governance challenges. A breakdown in trust, prevailing insecurity and a vacuum in local administration in some areas, has meant that dispute and resolution and resolving justice issues has shifted more to family and personal relationships rather than justice actors."}, {"bbox": [96, 378, 347, 404], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## Emerging justice systems"}, {"bbox": [96, 416, 1135, 604], "category": "Text", "text": "In parallel to the informal sector, justice systems of various ethnic and resistance actors in the territory they control is a reality on the ground which is gaining importance, especially over the past year. In non-SAC controlled areas, EOs and pro-democracy bodies' justice administration is fast evolving, with new actors now also delivering justice services, despite lacking clear policy and operational guidance. A notable development in 2022 was the NUG establishing for the first time a judiciary and a police force in territories it controls in Sagaing Region. But given the high levels of conflict, the NUG's ability to operate and deliver justice services remains to be demonstrated. Nonetheless, justice remains an important area of governance where NUG aims to assert its legitimacy."}, {"bbox": [96, 614, 1135, 935], "category": "Text", "text": "Similarly, some EOs have either established new justice systems or taken steps to strengthen existing ones. As a result of the territorial gains achieved by EOs and resistance forces in 2023, a large proportion of the population now live under the rule of armed groups with varying capacities to govern. Whilst most groups recognise the importance of a functioning justice system in the territories that they control, not least to establish their own legitimacy, the highly fluid operating context and variable access to resources and expertise means that there are huge variations in the justice systems that are being established. In addition, the commitment of these groups to access to justice and rule of law principles is unclear, with evidence of the widespread use of the death penalty and inhumane treatment of prisoners. The depth and detail of information on each of these systems is not uniform, as research on some is more accessible than others. Despite some EO justice systems being relatively formalised, research shows that in practice they are built off village-level institutions which are recognised as the primary site for dispute resolution. The range of services offered is therefore similar to those offered through community justice mechanisms, although more advanced systems are also dealing with more serious criminal offences."}, {"bbox": [96, 945, 1135, 1054], "category": "Text", "text": "The fragmented Myanmar justice landscape is an operational reality, as such any support requires a differentiated approach while ensuring that any engagement embeds a number of safeguards for fairness and inclusivity, protects human rights, and encourages the development of common minimal standards to facilitate integration of these systems in the future."}, {"bbox": [96, 1064, 887, 1090], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## Disproportionate impact of the context on women, poor and marginalised groups"}, {"bbox": [96, 1102, 1135, 1238], "category": "Text", "text": "Across all formal, informal and ethnic systems, some groups appear more vulnerable and disempowered in relations to justice. This includes in particular those from ethnic or religious minority groups, those with low level of education, rural inhabitants, persons with disabilities and women. Certain groups experience multiple justice issues more often, therefore compounding the effects of injustice. Moreover, these groups are also more careful when seeking justice because of increased risks of being stigmatized or discriminated, or even further violated."}, {"bbox": [96, 1248, 1135, 1462], "category": "Text", "text": "Other groups, such as persons with disabilities might not be aware of all their rights and able to recognise these as injustices or to seek redress because of stigma, inaccessible processes and stronger dependency on their families and communities, which puts them at particular risk. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable. Following the Coup, an estimated 5,134 women have been subjected to arbitrary arrest, with documented systematic sexual abuse in detention and deprivation of medical care and hygiene products¹². More generally, gender-based crimes committed by all parties to the conflict are characterised by a complete lack of accountability. Justice systems, including traditional ones, are highly uneven in delivering justice to survivors of gender-based violence and crimes in general."}, {"bbox": [85, 1524, 1145, 1599], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹¹ A justice study conducted under the first phase of the EU-funded My Justice programme in 2018 among 3,565 respondents showed that only 16% of citizens think that laws are useful to settle disputes, and only 9% that laws are protecting the rights of people."}, {"bbox": [85, 1597, 1145, 1646], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹² As of 22 December 2023 (source: Trend analysis: Conflict-related sexual violence in Myanmar, Biannual assessment, Edition 2/2023 (1 July to 31 December))"}, {"bbox": [1027, 1655, 1145, 1682], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 6 of 32"}]