No more denial: Children affected by armed conflict in Myanmar (Burma) - Report

Executive Summary


In the midst of Myanmar's enduring political and socioeconomic turmoil, thousands of children also experience the devastating consequences of protracted armed conflict in parts of the country. For decades Myanmar Armed Forces and associated armed groups have engaged in low-level armed conflict with opposing non-state armed groups (NSAGs) in parts of Kayin (Karen), Kayah (Karenni), Shan, Mon and Chin States. Even in so-called 'ceasefire areas,' some NSAGs have retained their arms and in some cases acting as proxy forces of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), wreaking havoc on children and their communities.

The high occurrence and brutality of reported human and child rights violations makes it impossible to deny that Myanmar Armed Forces and NSAGs commit grave violations against children in Myanmar's armed conflict. The SPDC must no longer deny these children access to sufficient and lifesaving humanitarian assistance. Finally, the UN Security Council and the international community must not deny the urgency of protecting children from violence, maltreatment and abuse in Myanmar's ongoing armed conflict.

No More Denial: Violations against Children in Armed Conflict
Children living in Myanmar's conflict zones are often caught in indiscriminate shelling and attacks against villages. As a result of the high demand for new recruits, children as young as nine constantly face the threat of forced or coerced recruitment by security forces and civilians, even in public places such as bus or train stations and markets. In fact, the recruitment and use of children has turned into a profitable business for soldiers, civilian brokers and the police, who receive money or food from recruiters for each new recruit. Myanmar Armed Forces have also allegedly committed grave acts of sexual violence, including rape, against women and girls from ethnic minorities. Furthermore, Myanmar Armed Forces have occupied educational facilities for military purposes, recruited teachers and students for forced labor and planted landmines close to schools or on the paths to schools. In international fora the SPDC has presented such human rights violations and the diversion of public resources to the military sector as necessary measures to fight armed groups opposed to a unified state.

NSAGs, particularly those associated with the SPDC, have also committed violations against children and other civilians, including child recruitment, extrajudicial killings, rape and extortion. Most NSAGs have reportedly recruited and used children in their armed groups, albeit on a much lower scale than the Myanmar Armed Forces.

In addition to these violations, various other violations such as forced displacement, abductions, forced labor and trafficking continue to be committed by Myanmar Armed Forces and NSAGs against children and their families in areas of Myanmar.

Despite ample evidence, widespread impunity and non-accountability leaves perpetrators unpunished and deprives victims of their right to justice and fair remedy. Even in highly publicized rape cases, perpetrators are generally not brought to justice. On the contrary, in some cases survivors have themselves been threatened or punished for speaking out. Similarly, penalties for underage recruitment are weak. In 21 cases of recruitment verified by the UN between September 2007 and December 2008, punishments included official reprimands, monetary fines and, in one instance, loss of one year of military seniority. As a result of these weak penalties, local commanders often choose to commit the crime of child recruitment rather than fail to meet recruitment quotas imposed on them, which carry harsher penalties. In general, impunity combined with a lack of adequate medical, legal and psychosocial assistance discourages survivors and their families from reporting violations and seeking assistance or redress.