Dhaka Tribune
The UN special envoy
said they observed a pattern of widespread atrocities, including sexual
violence against Rohingya women and girls who have been systematically targeted
on account of their ethnicity and religion.
United Nations
Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict
Pramila Patten on Sunday said they consistently heard about sexual violence
from Rohingya survivors, including gang-rape of women by multiple soldiers.
“One survivor
described being held in captivity by the Myanmar Armed Forces for 45 days when
she was raped repeatedly,” she said while addressing a press conference at a
hotel in Dhaka.
Patten said others
still bore visible scars, bruises and bite marks attesting to their ordeal.
Also Read- ‘I saw Myanmar army gang-rape my daughter’ http://www.dhakatribune.com/world/south-asia/2017/09/21/saw-myanmar-army-gang-rape-daughter/
“Any actor who
commits and commands or condones sexual violence against civilians must be held
to account,” she said.
“This includes
keeping the spotlight of international scrutiny on the perpetrators. I want the
survivors to know that they are not alone; I also want to ensure that the
government of Bangladesh will not be alone in coming to their aid,” she said.
The UN special envoy
said they observed a pattern of widespread atrocities, including sexual
violence against Rohingya women and girls who have been systematically targeted
on account of their ethnicity and religion.
Also Read- Rohingya women: The face of unspeakable horror http://www.dhakatribune.com/opinion/special/2017/09/03/rohingya-women-face-unspeakable-horror/
“A clear picture is
emerging from the alleged perpetrators of these atrocities and their modus
operandi. Sexual violence is being commanded, orchestrated and perpetrated by
the Armed Forces of Myanmar,” Patten said.
Other actors
involved include the Myanmar Border Guard Police and militias composed of
Rakhine Buddhists and other ethnic groups.
She also mentioned
about other forms of sexual violence like forced public nudity and humiliation,
and sexual slavery in military captivity.
“Several sources
informed us that some women and girls have been literally raped to death,” said
the UN envoy.
Also Read- Gang-rape horrors haunt Rohingya refugees http://www.dhakatribune.com/world/south-asia/2017/09/24/gang-rape-horrors-haunt-rohingya-refugees/
She said some of the
Rohingyas expressed their desire to return home, provided they would be granted
citizenship and equal status while others said they have nothing left to return
but ashes.
“The wounds are
extremely raw. Women and girls dissolved into tears when recounting the extreme
brutalities they both endured and witnessed,” said the UN envoy.
Patten said one
woman shared three concrete recommendations that made a deep impression on her.
Also Read- Raped, burned, killed http://www.dhakatribune.com/world/south-asia/2017/09/24/raped-burned-killed/
“We want peace, we
want a leader who can take responsibility for our community and we want a safe
place where we can share our stories with our sisters,” Patten quoted the
Rohingya woman as saying.
She said all the
women she spoke with wanted to see the perpetrators punished. “They all –
without exception – demanded justice. And yet, not a single soldier or
commander has been called to account for these atrocities.”
Upon her return to
New York, the UN envoy will brief the UN Secretary General on the situation she
observed on the ground.
Her office will
compile the annual report of the Secretary General on conflict-related sexual
violence to be presented to the Security Council next March which includes a
dedicated section on Myanmar.
Also Read- The real reason so many Rohingya girls are pregnant http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2017/10/27/mysteries-surrounding-pregnancy-rohingya-girls/
She laid emphasis on
intensifying pressure on Myanmar and said the UN Security Council could also
establish a mechanism to investigate the crimes.
Patten said she will
also discuss the issue with the President of the International Criminal Court
during her meeting soon.
Responding to a
question, she said what had happened could be crimes against humanity and it
could also be genocide and others have called it ethnic cleansing but she first
wants to analyse the information she acquired.
The UN special envoy
visited Bangladesh to better understand the patterns and trends of the sexual
violence related to the conflict in Myanmar.
The Special
Representative visited several field locations, including the
Bangladesh-Myanmar border itself.
She met relevant
Bangladeshi authorities in Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar, including the security
services, to discuss strengthened collaboration and coordination with the UN to
respond to sexual and gender-based violence, as well as potential protection
concerns arising from the unprecedented influx of Rohingyas into Bangladesh.
