Embassies, UNFPA condemn sexual violence in conflict 

By DMG 19 Jun 2021

DMG Newsroom
19 June 2021, Sittwe 

Four embassies in Yangon and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) used International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict on June 19 “to unequivocally condemn acts of sexual violence by all armed actors, and those associated with them, in Myanmar.” 

In a statement on Saturday, the embassies of Canada, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden joined the UNFPA in saying: “Sexual violence is never justified under any circumstances. All armed actors have a responsibility to prohibit this form of violence from occurring and take full responsibility when it is perpetrated.” 

It continued: “Survivors of sexual violence — girls, boys, women, men, sexual and gender minorities — and their families carry the trauma of these heinous crimes. Access to timely and safe physical and mental health support services is critical. In Myanmar, survivors including those born of rape, live with shame, stigma, limited health and social support, and few options to seek legal redress. 

“All armed actors in Myanmar are obligated to adhere to international law and standards, including the core tenets of international human rights law, humanitarian law, and criminal law. They must allow full humanitarian access in all parts of Myanmar, including sites of detention.” 

Both Tatmadaw soldiers and non-state armed groups have long been accused of perpetrating sexual violence in conflict zones across Myanmar. 

In December 2020, a military tribunal sentenced three soldiers to 20 years in prison with hard labour for raping a 36-year-old woman in U Gar village, part of Arakan State’s Rathedaung Township, in June of last year. 

The case marked a rare instance of accountability for military personnel, who have long been accused of operating with impunity.