Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun, made an urgent presentation to the UN Security Council regarding the Myanmar military’s sexual violence. During an open meeting on conflict-related sexual violence held in New York on August 19, he revealed that the Myanmar military is systematically perpetrating sexual violence against civilians, particularly committing rape against women in front of their family members. The ambassador detailed how the military is using sexual violence as a weapon against the civilian population, including rape, gang rape, sexual slavery, sexual torture, genital mutilation, and forced nudity at military checkpoints.
According to the ambassador’s presentation, the military is using sexual violence as a weapon to terrorize civilians, with documented cases including rape, group assault, sexual slavery, sexual torture, mutilation, and forced stripping at checkpoints. The security situation for women and girls has deteriorated significantly since the 2021 military coup, with the military systematically and widely perpetrating sexual violence. Some incidents involve women being assaulted in front of their husbands, parents, siblings, children, and relatives – acts the ambassador described as beyond words. He emphasized that these crimes are being committed in a widespread and systematic manner by the military regime.
The ambassador urged the international community to understand the daily reality faced by Myanmar’s people and called for immediate effective action to stop the military’s brutality. He also called on the international community to use all possible means to stop the supply of weapons, ammunition, jet fuel, dual-use items, and financial support to the military. He warned that the military regime’s planned sham election would become a license for the military to continue committing inhumane crimes, including sexual violence in conflict, and urged the international community to strongly oppose this election. The ambassador emphasized that every second, minute, and hour is crucial for the victims and called on the Security Council, UN member states, and the entire UN system to take immediate effective action using all possible means to end the military’s brutal actions.
