Today, on 19th August, we are celebrating the 33rd Anniversary of the Kachin Women’s Day. The Kachin Independence Women’s Association (KIWA) was established on August 19, 1978. Over the past (33) years from its establishment, the Kachin Women Association has been working for the advancement of women and children. During the time of civil war between the Burmese military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Kachin women and children have suffered various forms of abuses and violations such as arbitrary arrest, torture, gang rape and killing by the Burmese army as means of revenge against the KIA.