PSPD in English Int. Solidarity 2021-12-19   954

Hold the Myanmar military and security forces accountable for their grave human rights violations, including violence against women

Hold the Myanmar military and security forces accountable for their grave human rights violations, including violence against women

 

December 19, 2021

 

Dear Members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, 

 

We, the undersigned women’s rights and human rights organizations, call upon the UN Security Council to hold the Myanmar military and security forces accountable for their grave human rights violations, including the use of violence against women. We strongly condemn the Myanmar military and security forces for their acts in violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws and norms, which amount to crimes against humanity according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, and the UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar. Since the Myanmar military’s attempted seizure of power on February 1, 2021, the junta has arbitrarily arrested and detained at least 11,047 people, and murdered over 1345. Nationwide, the Myanmar military junta is intensifying its use of air strikes and other heavy weapons against civilians, forcing thousands of women and children to flee their homes. Given the Myanmar military and security forces’ decades-long use of sexual and gender-based violence against ethnic minority women, including Rohingya, we are extremely distressed that the situation of the women of Myanmar will continue to be severely exacerbated.

 

Today, we write this letter to draw attention to the Myanmar military junta’s widespread and systematic use of violence against women in particular since February 1, 2021. Among such brutalities, the following cases demonstrate the junta’s acts in violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws and norms, including the UN Charter and the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and in contravention of the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the UN Security Council Resolution 1325:

 

1. On February 9, in Naypyidaw, Naypyidaw Union Territory, a Myanmar Police Force officer fired a submachine gun at a group of civilians in a non-violent anti-coup demonstration, shooting 19-year-old Mya Thwet Thwet Khaing in the head and resulting in her death a week later. 

2. On March 3, in Mandalay, Mandalay Region, the Myanmar military and security forces fired live ammunition at a group of civilians in a non-violent anti-coup demonstration, murdering 19-year-old Kyal Sin, or Angel. 

3. On April 3, in Mutraw District, Karen State, following its wave of airstrikes on the Thai-Myanmar border from March 27 to April 1, the Myanmar military fired shells into villages, killing a woman in Ler Day Village; four days later, the military fired shells into Nay Ga Village, injuring two women and an 11-year-old girl. 

4. On April 17, in Yankin Township, Yangon Region, the Myanmar military and security forces arbitrarily detained 31-year-old Khin Nyein Thu, 19-year-old Hsu Linn Htet, and four men for their alleged involvement in a series of bomb attacks; and at an interrogation center in the city’s Shwepyithar Township, tortured and sexually assaulted Khin Nyein Thu, including by kicking and beating her sexual organs with a stick until they bled.

5. On May 25, in Tawseint Village, Magwe Region, approximately 70 soldiers and officers of the Myanmar military and security forces raided the area and fired live ammunition at residents for their alleged involvement in producing anti-coup graffiti, murdering 24-year-old Saung Hnin Hmon.

6. On June 13, in Bamun Village, Mandalay Region, the Myanmar military and security forces arbitrarily detained 5-year-old Su Htet Wine, her 44-year-old mother, and 17-year-old sister when attempting to arrest her father, a local protest leader. While Su Htet Wine was released on June 30, her mother and sister were sentenced in July to three years in prison for alleged incitement.

7. On July 27, in Mandalay, Mandalay Region, the Myanmar military and security forces fired live ammunition at a group of civilians in a non-violent anti-coup demonstration, murdering 25-year-old Thu Thu Zin. Her body has yet to be returned to her family.

8. On September 1, in Paung Township, Mon State, the Myanmar military and security forces fired live ammunition at 27-year-old Ei Thwe Moe, who was five months pregnant, and her husband, killing them both.

9. On October 28, in Pyin Htaung Village, Sagaing Region, the Myanmar military and security forces raided the area and fired live ammunition at civilians, killing six-year-old Myo Thandar Hlaing.

10. On November 7, in Kutkai Township, Shan State, a soldier from the Myanmar military and security forces raped a 62-year-old woman.

11. On November 11, in Aklui Village, Chin State, a group of soldiers from the Myanmar military and security forces raided the area, plundered its homes, and gang raped a 27-year-old woman and her 30-year-old sister-in-law. 

12. On December 5, in Kyimyindaing Township, Yangon Region, a Myanmar military vehicle rammed into a group of civilians in a non-violent anti-coup demonstration, resulting in fatalities and leaving many injured; soldiers then fired at the demonstrators and arbitrarily detained at least three women, including Mya Kyu Kyu Thin, Yin May Aung, and Hmuu Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Htun. 

 

We would like to share our sincere appreciation for the member states’ continued efforts to raise awareness of the ongoing atrocities, including by issuing statements and resolutions. However, ten months after the coup attempt, we fear that words alone cannot be deemed effective in putting an end to the junta’s violence and protecting the lives of the country’s people. For over thirty years, the Myanmar military and security forces that compose the junta today have wielded violence to subjugate the country’s ethnic minority communities. According to the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, sexual and gender-based violence — including rape, gang rape, sexual mutilation, sexual slavery — have been the hallmark of the Myanmar military and security forces’ commission of mass atrocity crimes, including genocide against Rohingya. Providing further evidence of such terror in Myanmar, women’s rights and human rights organizations have long urged for justice to be served to the victims and survivors of the military’s brutalities. Yet, the international community’s  failure to take concerted action to meet such decades-long calls for accountability has instead emboldened the Myanmar military and security forces to launch a coup attempt, and intensify their use of violence nationwide. We now believe that the junta is perpetrating crimes against humanity across the entire country, and are asking you to take all the necessary measures to protect the people of Myanmar today.

 

Therefore, we, the undersigned organizations, urge the UN Security Council to hold the Myanmar military and security forces accountable by adopting a resolution to

1. Refer the situation of Myanmar to the International Criminal Court in order hold the Myanmar military and security forces accountable for committing crimes, including sexual and gender-based violence, under international law.

2. Impose targeted economic sanctions, financial penalties, and restrictions on the junta leadership and businesses that are owned and controlled by the Myanmar military and security forces; and freeze their assets. 

3. Impose a comprehensive and global arms embargo on Myanmar. 

 

We thank you for your leadership and attention to this matter. 

 

 

Signed by 618 Myanmar and international human rights and women’s rights organizations,* including:

 

   1. Abductees’ Mothers Association 

   2. ACDI/VOCA  

   3. ACDI/VOCA Myanmar

   4. African Women 4 Empowerment

   5. Aliran, Malaysia

   6. Alliance of Inclusive Muslims (AIM)

   7. ALTSEAN-Burma

   8. Alyansa Tigil Mina (Alliance to Stop Mining) – Philippines

   9. American Rohingya Advocacy/Arakan Institute for Peace and Development

 10. Anti hate movement

 11. Asia Democracy Network

 12. Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

 13. Asia Pacific Forum on Women Law and Development

 14. Asia Pacific Partnership for Atrocity Prevention (APPAP)

 15. Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters-HRDP

 16. Association of War Affected Women

 17. Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM)

 18. Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization

 19. Aware Girls

 20. Balai Syura Ureung Inong Aceh

 21. BALAOD Mindanaw

 22. Beyond Borders Malaysia

 23. Blood Money Campaign

 24. Bukluran ng Manggagawng Pilipino (BMP/Solidarity of Filipino Workers)

 25. Burma Action Ireland

 26. Burma Campaign UK

 27. Burma Task Force

 28. Burmese American Millennials

 29. Burmese Democratic Forces

 30. Bytes For All, Pakistan

 31. Center for Social Integrity

 32. Center of Excellence on Women and Social Security, Walailak University, Thailand

 33. Centre for Human Rights and Development 

 34. Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice

 35. Centre for Peace and Justice, Brac University

 36. Chin Leaders of Tomorrow (CLT)

 37. Citizenship Affected Peoples’ Network CAPN – Nepal

 38. Community Initiatives for Development in Pakistan

 39. Crane Center for Mass Atrocity Prevention

 40. Dalit Foundation

 41. Deep Germany

 42. East Yangon University Legal Information Center

 43. Equal Asia Foundation (Stichting EqualA Foundation)

 44. Equality Bahamas

 45. Europe solidaire sans frontières (ESSF), France

 46. European Karen Network 

 47. European Rohingya Council

 48. FIDH – International Federation for Human Rights

 49. Fondazione Pangea

 50. FORUM-ASIA

 51. Foundation for Labour and Employment Promotion

 52. Free Burma Action Bay/USA/Global

 53. Free Myanmar Campaign USA/BACI

 54. Freedom for Burma

 55. Freedom, Justice, Equality for Myanmar

 56. Fresh Eyes, United Kingdom

 57. Fund for Congolese Women

 58. Gaston Z Ortigas Peace Institute (Philippines)

 59. Genocide Watch

 60. Global DEEP Network 

 61. Global Justice Center

 62. Global Movement for Myanmar Democracy (GM4MD)

 63. Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC)

 64. Globe International Center, Mongolia

 65. Hope Revival Organization

 66. HRM “Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan”

 67. Human right organization

 68. ICR / No Business with Genocide / Campaign for a New Myanmar

 69. In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND)

 70. Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY)

 71. Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)

 72. Institute for Asian Democracy

 73. Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies

 74. International Association of People’s Lawyers

 75. International Center on Conflict and Negotiation (ICCN)

 76. International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)

 77. International Karen Organization

 78. International Peace Bureau (IPB)

 79. International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific

 80. Iraqi Women Network

 81. Islamic Renaissance Front

 82. Justice Base

 83. Justice4Rohingya UK

 84. Karen Community of Canada

 85. Karen Human Rights Group

 86. Karen Organization of America

 87. Karen Peace Support Network

 88. Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law

 89. LA Rohingya Association/America Rohingya Justice Network

 90. Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada

 91. Loka Ahlinn (LA)

 92. Madaripur Legal Aid Association (MLAA)

 93. Mandalay Federalism Institute

 94. Manushya Foundation

 95. Maramagri Youth Network 

 96. MARUAH

 97. Mercy Corps

 98. Middle East Nonviolence and Democracy (MEND)

 99. Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute Foundation, Inc.

100.Monitoring Committee on Attacks on Lawyers, International Association of    People’s Lawyers (IAPL)

101.Montréal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies

102.Myanmar Advocacy Coalition

103.Myanmar Student Community – Thailand

104.Naripokkho, Bangladesh

105.National Domestic Woman Workers Union

106.Nationalities Alliance of Burma USA

107.Never Again Coalition

108.Nobel Women’s Initiative

109.Nonviolence International – Ukraine

110.Novelita V. Palisoc

111.Office of Nobel Laureate and former President

112.OPEN ASIA|Armanshahr

113.Pacific Conference of Churches

114.Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum

115.Pakistan Rural Workers Social Welfare Organization

116.Participatory Research & Action Network- PRAAN

117.Pathways for Women’s Empowerment and Development (PaWED)

118.Pax Romana Delegate at UNO Vienna

119.Peace and Security Cluster, AEPF

120.Peace Track Initiative 

121.Peace Women Partners, Inc.

122.Peacebuilding Project

123.People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) 

124.Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (GERAK)

125.Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor

126.Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)

127.Psychological Responsiveness NGO

128.Public Association “Dignity”

129.Rakhine Ethnics Congress 

130.RCDC

131.Rockflower Partners Inc.

132.Rohingya Action Ireland

133.Salam for Democracy and Human Rights

134.Sassoufit collective

135.SERAPAZ 

136.Shan Women’s Action Network

137.Sisters of Charity Federation

138.Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation

139.Sokhany Prak from Cambodian Civil Society Partnership (CCSP)

140.Southeast Asia Conflict Studies Network (SEACSN)

141.Southeast Asian Women Peacebuilders Network (SEAWP)

142.Spring Revolution Interfaith Network

143.Students for Free Burma

144.Support the Democracy Movement in Burma

145.Textile Garment Federation

146.The Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) – Indonesia

147.The Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Women Division 

148.Think Centre

149.U.S. Campaign for Burma

150.UNI GLOBAL UNION – Asia and Pacific

151.Uni Sri Lanka Affiliate Council Women’s Committee.

152.Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA 

153.Verein zur Förderung der Völkerverständigung (VFV)

154.Visionary Foundation Pakistan

155.Voices From Friends

156.Vrede vzw (Belgium) 

157.WiLDAF-Afrique de l’Ouest

158.Women Activists Myanmar

159.Women Alliance Burma

160.Women Advocacy Coalition Myanmar

161.Women Education Development Organization of Liberia

162.Women’s Aid Organisation

163.Women’s League of Burma

164.Women’s Peace Network

165.Women’s Refugee Commission

166.Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC)

167.World Federalist Movement/Institute for Global Policy

168.YLBHI/Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation

169.Young Pride Club

170.Youth Core Group on Atrocity Prevention

 

*447 Myanmar organizations have signed our letter anonymously due to security concerns.

 

Letter to UN Security Concil[See and Download]

 

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