Burma Briefing No. 34
This briefing details how the Burmese Army has used rape and sexual violence with impunity for decades. Reports of rape and sexual violence have continued since Thein Sein became President and reforms began. Burma Campaign UK is calling for an international investigation to be established, as it is clear that President Thein Sein and the Burmese Army are unwilling to address this issue.
Community based women’s organisations such as members of the Women’s League of Burma have been documenting rape and sexual violence by the Burmese Army for decades. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Burma has also documented numerous cases of rape and sexual violence by the Burmese Army in the past twenty years. Despite these abuses clearly violating international law, the British government and rest of the international community does not take the ongoing use of rape and sexual violence by the Burmese Army into account when deciding policy on Burma.
Recent cases include a 12 year old girl raped in front of her mother, the rape of a disabled woman, and many gang-rapes in which the victims were killed.