Statement by United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zainab Hawa Bangura:
(New York, 27 January 2015)
I am gravely concerned by the killing and the allegations of the rape of two young female teachers from the Kachin Baptist Convention in a village in Northern Shan State in Myanmar on January 20th. I call on the Government of Myanmar to ensure that an impartial and effective investigation into this killing and alleged rape is conducted in order to ensure justice, reparations for the families and accountability for the perpetrators.
I am also concerned by the recent declaration made by an influential monk during the official visit to Myanmar of the human rights special rapporteur Ms. Yanghee Lee. I share the concern of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and find it unacceptable that a religious leader, who should be a natural ally in promoting and ensuring the respect of human dignity as well as in supporting victims and survivors of conflict, whatever their dominations, has used such a form of incitement to violence and hatred.
I call on the Government of Myanmar as well as religious and political leaders to condemn such positions and messages, and to make collective efforts in order to build a society respectful of religious freedom and non-discrimination. We also continue to receive allegations of ethnically-motivated rapes. I therefore urge the Government to put a final end to the impunity for conflict-related sexual violence that is particularly targeting ethnic minority areas.