Nobel Women's Initiative

Stand in solidarity with the women human rights defenders in Burma by supporting their campaign for a United Nations General Assembly resolution establishing a Commission of Inquiry on possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma. UN member states will meet this September at the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly, where ongoing human rights violations within Burma will be discussed.

Take action now and urge your governments to vote for the resolution to establish the Commission of Inquiry. Write to your Foreign Ministry sending a clear message that the international community does not accept human rights violations against the Burmese people.

Download the sample letter to send to your Foreign Ministry.

 The military regime continues to ignore calls from the international community to adhere to international law and investigate abuses committed by its government forces against the population. Sixteen countries have expressed support for a Commission of Inquiry, as recommended by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights violations in Burma, but more is needed to reach majority vote.

Women in Burma are particularly at risk, as renewed military offences in the Shan and Kachin states has increased sexual violence. Government forces use rape as a weapon of war against the ethnic communities and dozens of women and girls have come forward since the start of 2011 to tell their story.

Click here to download a sample letter you can send to your government with more information on the resolution and a list where you can find your Foreign Ministers’ name and contact information to send your letter.

TAKE ACTION ONLINE

Join us on Twitter and Facebook to raise awareness about the ongoing human rights violations in Burma and the impact a Commission of Inquiry would have. Make sure to use the hashtag #burmainquiry to demand action now!

Sample Tweets:

#Burma gvt uses rape as weapon of war. Write your gvt urging #burmainquiry - Commiss'n of Inquiry on war crimes  http://bit.ly/p4b6KQ

Aung San Suu Kyi wants Commission of Inquiry into #Burma human rights abuses! Write your gvt to support #burmainquiry: http://bit.ly/p4b6KQ

#Burma continues a war against its ppl. Write your gvt urging #burmainquiry - a Commission of Inquiry on war crimes: http://bit.ly/p4b6KQ

Sample Facebook Posts:

The government of Burma continues to wage war against its population despite promising reforms. This year, after launching military activities in the northern provinces - dozens of women have been raped as part of a strategy of war. Burma cannot be immune from the law. Join me in sending a letter to our government calling for the UN to form a #burmainquiry - Commission of Inquiry into possible war crimes in Burma: http://bit.ly/p4b6KQ 

Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi recently condemned the use of rape as a weapon of war within her country. But the government of Burma continues to ignore all calls for investigations into war crimes by its military. Join me in asking our government to support the UN to form a #burmainquiry - a Commission of Inquiry on possible war crimes - the first step in justice for the women of Burma: http://bit.ly/p4b6KQ

LEARN MORE

For more information on the human rights crisis in Burma, visit: the Kachin Women’s Association Thailand  and the Shan Women’s Action Network.

Want to know more about how the Commission of Inquiry would help the women of Burma? Download this document with more information about the Commission of Inquiry on Burma.

SAMPLE LETTER:

Name of Foreign Minister
City, Province/State
Zip Code/Postal Code
Country

Your Excellency,

We are writing to ask your support in ensuring our government favorably votes for a resolution at the sixty-fifth session of the UN General Assembly this September 2011, to establish a Commission of Inquiry into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma.

The Burmese military regime continues to enact unspeakable human rights violations against its population. Sham elections and broken promises of democratic reform have not improved a miserable situation. Women have been particularly affected, with the state launching military offensives in the northern Shan and Kachin provinces. Government soldiers are continuing to commit serious crimes against the ethnic populations with complete impunity. Dozens of women have been raped since January 2011, and refugees note that government soldiers declared they were ordered to do so, adding to previous evidence of sexual violence as a weapon of war within Burma.

Despite ongoing calls to investigate atrocities committed by its forces, the Burmese state has taken no action. The military regime continuously ignores all calls to adhere to international humanitarian law and human rights law. Civil society groups have declared that a “humanitarian crisis is looming.”

The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma repeatedly had his investigations hindered by authorities and recommended that a Commission for Inquiry be established to fully investigate the extent of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has expressed her support for the formation of a Commission, stating that it was her hope the international community would fully implement the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur. 

The ongoing violence in Burma and the military regime’s continued disregard of obligations under international law demonstrates the dire need for action to be taken in support of the Burmese population. This is an opportune time for our government to show its leadership and commitment to democracy, human rights, and justice.

We urge you to do all you can to ensure that our government votes in favor of the resolution on a Commission of Inquiry into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Find the contact information for your Foreign Minister here.