May Sabai Phyu (also May Sabe Phyu, born 5 August 1976) is an activist from Kachin state in Burma (Myanmar). She works for human rights, freedom of speech, peace, justice for Myanmar’s ethnic people. She works to stop violence against women. In 2015, she won the U.S. State Department's International Women of Courage Award.
Work
In 2008, May Sabai Phyu started the Women’s Protection Technical Working Group during Cyclone Nargis. After the storm, 14 out of every 100 families were headed by women, many of them widows. Because of this, more women were in the sex trade for money or food. The Working Group helped women to find housing, sex education, and jobs.
After the problems of the storm were ended, the Working Group became the Gender Equality Network. May Sabai Phyu was the Senior Coordinator. In 2012, this group helped the government write the National Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Women. The organization also works for gender equality and makes plans to stop violence against women and girls.
May Sabai Phyu is a leader of the Kachin Peace Network. She led a protest against the civil war between Myanmar Government troops and the Kachin Independence Army. She spoke at Human Rights Workshops in Myanmar for human rights and for the rights of people with disabilities.
Other websites
2015 International Women of Courage Awards, U.S. State Department photostream on Flickr Secretary's International Women of Courage Award (U.S. Department of State)