<p>Last week, the Women’s League of Burma marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by calling upon the incoming National League for Democracy Government to take a serious stance on the protection of women from sexual violence.</p>

<p>The Union Election Commission (UEC) has&nbsp;<a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=72826759&amp;msgid=908506&amp;act=98NZ&amp;c=348258&amp;destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dvb.no%2Fdvb-video%2Felection-2015-polls-wont-open-in-karen-states-east%2F57703">declared</a>&nbsp;102 villages in Karen State to be too dangerous for polling to take place, which will prevent nearly 10,000 citizens in Burma from voting during the 8 November, 2015 General Elections. The announcement comes amid a number of similar voting cancellations and interference during the last few months.<br /></p>

<p>In a dramatic development on the 12 August 2015, Parliamentary Speaker, Shwe Mann was&nbsp;<a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=72826759&amp;msgid=906421&amp;act=98NZ&amp;c=348258&amp;destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dvb.no%2Fnews%2Fsecond-term-beckons-for-thein-sein-after-shwe-mann-ouster-burma-myanmar%2F55949">ousted</a>&nbsp;from his position as Chair of the ruling party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). Security forces surrounded USDP headquarters in Naypyidaw and purged the influential political figure from his position within the party.</p>