Jailed for Calling Themselves Rohingya

Burma Campaign UK today urged the High Representative of the European External Action Service, Federica Mogherini, to take action to free Rohingya community leaders, Ba Thar, Kyaw Khin, Kyaw Myint and Hla Myint, and to pressure the military-backed government in Burma to reform the Prisoners of Conscience Affairs Committee […]

Human Rights are Called Universal for a Reason – In English and Burmese

For many years in Burma, a person carrying a copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights risked arrest and even jail. Underground human rights networks distributed copies and organised discussions on the articles it contained […]

MPs Urge Ban Ki-Moon to Negotiate Humanitarian Access to Rakhine State, Burma

Over 50 MPs in the British Parliament have signed an Early Day Motion (EDM) (a kind of Parliamentary petition) calling on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to personally lead negotiations for humanitarian access to Rakhine State, Burma. The MPs also call on the British Government to put pressure on the Burmese government to address the root causes of why the Rohingya are fleeing the country […]

Human Rights are Called Universal for a Reason

For many years in Burma, a person carrying a copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights risked arrest and even jail. Underground human rights networks distributed copies and organised discussions on the articles it contained. Drafted in the aftermath of World War II by a world horrified by the genocidal policies of Germany’s Nazi regime, the declaration sought to lay out the standard rights that every human being should enjoy […]

The Burma Government Must Stop Condoning Sexual Violence in Conflict Areas

On 5 June 2015, Burma Campaign UK released a briefing paper that illustrated the Burma Government’s lack of action towards eliminating sexual violence since it signed the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict (the Declaration) last year. As a signatory to the declaration, Burma agreed to prioritize prevention of sexual violence and to hold all perpetrators accountable to the full extent of the international law, amongst other related commitments.

Unfortunately, not only has Burma ignored its commitments to the Declaration, it is also actively violating it, as cases of rape and sexual assault continue to emerge from conflict areas. According to Burma Campaign UK, “Given the widespread nature of sexual violence by the Burmese Army, the refusal to act, and now the violation of commitments made in the Declaration, it can only be concluded that the use of rape and sexual violence by the Burmese Army is condoned at the highest level of the government and the military.” […]

One Year on from Burma Signing Sexual Violence Declaration – No Steps Taken on Implementation

The Declaration contained twelve commitments to prevent sexual violence in conflict. The Burmese government is taking no significant action on any of these commitments, and is actively violating all nine of the commitments which relate to action they should be taking domestically, including on assistance and care to survivors, investigations, police and army doctrine in accordance with international law, and supporting and protecting civil society, women’s groups and human rights defenders […]

Htin Lin Oo Jailed for Criticising Religious Extremism

Today, the military-backed government in Burma sentenced a writer, Htin Lin Oo, to two years hard labour for criticising religious extremism in Burma. Burma Campaign UK urged Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond to pressure the Burmese government to ensure the immediate unconditional release of Htin Lin Oo and the remaining political prisoners in Burma […]

Woman Activist in Burma Jailed with Hard Labour for Protesting Peacefully – Free Naw Ohn Hla (Again)

Burma Campaign UK today urged Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire MP to call in the Burmese ambassador to Britain to question him regarding why people are still being arrested under the so-called right to protest law in Burma. Burma Campaign UK also urged the Foreign Office Minister to demand the military-backed government to reform the Prisoners of Conscience Affairs Committee, and ensure the immediate release of Naw Ohn Hla and the remaining political prisoners in Burma […]

UN Security Council Must Agree Concrete Action on Rohingya Crisis

Burma Campaign UK welcomes the discussion on Burma and the Rohingya due to take place at the United Nations Security Council today […]

Hammond Urged To Mobilise EU Over Rohingya Refugee Crisis

Burma Campaign UK today called on Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond to ensure that EU Foreign Ministers discuss the Rohingya refugee crisis when they meet on Monday. The European Union should apply pressure on Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia to stop pushing boats of Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshis back out to sea […]