UN Secretary General Calls For Investigation Into Sexual Violence in Burma

By Burma Campaign UK • April 22, 2014

As the United Nations Security Council prepares to hold a debate on sexual violence in conflict on Friday 25th April, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on the government of Burma to fully investigate crimes of sexual violence, and work with the United Nations to protect and assist survivors.

Since 2012, the Secretary General has presented an annual report to the UN Security Council ahead of their annual debate on sexual violence in conflict. His latest report contains the call for an investigation. This is the first time that the Secretary General has made such a call in this report. The report also has a slightly expanded section on Burma compared to previous reports.

“Burma Campaign UK welcomes the fact that the UN Secretary General is focussing more on sexual violence in Burma, and has called for an investigation,” said Zoya Phan, Campaigns Manager at Burma Campaign UK. “However, the United Nations has made dozens of calls on the Burmese government to hold credible investigations into human rights violations, and all have been ignored. It is time the United Nations established its own investigation.”

Burma Campaign UK is calling on the British government to raise sexual violence in Burma during the UN Security Council debate on Friday. Despite stating that ending impunity for sexual violence is a priority, when it comes to Burma the British government has taken no action to end impunity, and is even providing training for the Burmese Army, despite its continuing use of rape.

Burma Campaign UK has published a new briefing paper on sexual violence and rape in Burma.

The briefing paper is available here.

The UN Secretary General stated in his report:
“I call upon the government of Myanmar to fully investigate and respond to current and historical human rights violations and abuses, including crimes of sexual violence. I urge the Government, with the support of the United Nations and its partners, to work to develop a comprehensive protection and service response for survivors.”

The report of the Secretary General is available here.