BURMA: Act on Courts, Police Covering up Child Rape

The Asian Human Rights Commission on Wednesday condemned ongoing efforts by the courts and police in Burma to thwart prosecution of an influential person accused of abduction and rape of a child […]

The Burmese Government Must Immediately End Human Rights Violations, Including Violence Against Women, in Palaung Areas

During the past four months, the Burmese Army has been carrying out fierce military offensives in Palaung areas against the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N), Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). The Palaung Women’s Organization and Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization (TSYO) are gravely concerned at the impacts of the fighting on local communities, who have suffered widespread abuses by the Burmese military […]

Update of Human Right Violations by the Burma Army During Offensives in Palaung Areas (March and April 2013)

Since January 2013, Burmese government troops have been carrying out military offensives in Palaung areas against the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N), Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). The Burmese troops have committed widespread human rights violations during these operations […]

G8 Must Not Ignore Sexual Violence In Burma

Burma Campaign UK is deeply concerned that G8 Foreign Ministers meeting today appear to be prioritising trade opportunities with Burma, rather than ending rape and sexual violence committed by Burmese government forces.

The Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) is top of the agenda for G8 Foreign Ministers. However, Burma is not one of the countries included in PSVI. Instead, discussion on Burma will focus on proposals by the Government of Burma for responsible investment […]

Human Rights Violations Perpetrated Against the Chin in Burma (March 2011 – March 2013)

Documentation from human rights groups shows that in fact, serious human rights violations continue across the country under President Thein Sein’s government, with particularly severe consequences for ethnic and religious minorities. For the predominantly Christian Chin people, this includes violations of religious freedom, forced labour, sexual violence, and extra-judicial killing, despite the fact that a ceasefire between armed resistance group the Chin National Front (CNF) and the government is holding […]

Human Rights Council Must Address Sexual Violence in Burma

British government receiving; ‘disturbing reports of the use of sexual violence by the military in Burma.’ On International Women’s Day, Burma Campaign UK is calling on members of the United Nations Human Rights Council to ensure that the Council continues to investigate serious human rights abuses in Burma […]

Burma Still Requires the UN Human Rights Council’s Attention

This week 22 organizations from Burma released a statement calling on the 22nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council to maintain its resolution on the situation of human rights in Burma under item 4 as “Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention” and to renew the full mandate of the Special Rapporteur Tomás Ojea Quintana. Serious human rights challenges that require the Council’s attention remain as the events of this week illustrate.

Border Security Forces in Arakan State allegedly raped 13 young Rohingya women. This highlights the serious remaining issues of the rampant culture of impunity for security forces and the Burma Army and the decades-long discrimination against the Rohingya organized and perpetuated by the government.

In Kachin State, despite ceasefire talks, fighting continued this week making more and more victims on the civilian side […]

International Community Must Act to End Atrocities by Thein Sein’s Government

First use of airstrikes in twenty years brings fears of increased civilian fatalities and human rights abuses

The international community should act immediately to ensure that Thein Sein’s government stops military attacks and human rights abuses in Kachin State, the Women’s League of Burma said today. The international community should also provide humanitarian aid and impose an arms embargo on Thein Sein’s government […]

Communities Across Shan State Vent Frustration at Ongoing Abuses During Peace Process

Communities attending recent public meetings across Shan State vented frustration at ongoing abuses despite the fact that the new peace process has been underway for over a year […]

Burma’s Reform Process Must Include Ending Violence Against Women

Yesterday, as on every 25 November, women and men around the world celebrated the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Violence against women takes many forms, physical, sexual, psychological and economic and occurs all around the world and in every culture. Burma is no exception to that rule.

Women in Burma, and in particular in ethnic nationality areas, are the victims of sexual violence, sexual exploitation, human trafficking and discrimination. In addition, in situations of armed conflict and extreme poverty, they are often amongst the most vulnerable population and they bear the burden of war and displacement.

Rape has been used as a weapon of war by the Burma Army in ethnic areas for decades. In Kachin State where fighting has been ongoing for more than one year, the Kachin Women’s Association – Thailand (KWAT) has documented that Burma Army troops have committed sexual violence against at least 61 women and children, about half of whom were killed […]