Sexual and gender-based violence in Myanmar and the gendered impact of its ethnic conflicts in English slurs during the commission of these violations247 and in their treatment as inferior or even “sub-human”.248 111. One Kachin survivor recounted that she was called a “Kachin bitch” and “children of the fucker”.249 Another survivor said her perpetrators compared Kachin people to dogs. 250 A witness to the gang rape of two teenage girls by 20 soldiers in a forest heard the soldiers call the girls “witches” and tell them, “we will torture you Kachin bitches until you are extinct”.251 A witness to sexual assault, rape and killing of Shan women during forced labour reported the soldiers told them, “all Shan ladies are only for us and not for the Shan people. We do not want your children to be Shan.”252 One Ta’ang female survivor also reported the soldiers insulted her during rape, which she understood despite her limited knowledge of the Myanmar language.253 112. The Mission found that the Tatmadaw used rape and other forms of sexual violence to target women and girls during its military ground operations, 254 during forced labour255 or as a result of heavy militarization256 with a particular intent to punish or dehumanise them for their gender, ethnic and religious identity. Women and girls have been subjected to abduction, rape, including gang rape and attempted rape, rape-murder, forced nudity, sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence. There are also credible reports of sexual slavery.257 In many cases, sexual violence was accompanied by degrading behaviour, including insults and spitting.258 When women escaped, Tatmadaw soldiers would frequently search for them, threaten and physically abuse their family members, and destroy or steal their property.259 113. The findings in this section are based on over 65 interviews with survivors, families of survivors and victims, witnesses, and sexual and gender-based violence experts. The prevailing context of insecurity in northern Myanmar, the culturally based stigmatisation and ostracism of sexual violence survivors, and the continuing presence of the military and armed groups, despite the current ceasefire, suggest significant underreporting of human rights violations.260 (ii) Rape and other forms of sexual violence during Tatmadaw ground operations 114. In its 2018 report the Mission concluded on reasonable grounds that sexual violence has been perpetrated against women and girls in Shan and Kachin since 2011 during Tatmadaw-led “clearance operations” as a tactic of war.261 115. Since June 2011, when the 17-year ceasefire between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Tatmadaw broke down, Tatmadaw has conducted military operations 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 28 A/HRC/39/CRP.2, para. 112; DI-063, DI-064, DI-066, PI-003, PI-007, PI-004, PI-026, PI-069, QI090, QI-096. A/HRC/39/CRP.2, para. 112, 217-218; DI-061, PI-087, QI-094, PI-031. PI-004. PI-023. PI-069. PI-155. PI-166. GI-006, PI-063, PI-069 , PI-117, PI-146, see also Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF), Summary of HR violations committed by Burma Army troops during military offensive in Tang Yan, Shan State, from 14-15 April 2013 (April 2013). A/HRC/39/CRP.2, para 253-273; PI-004, PI-023, PI-029, PI-067, PI-068, PI-083, PI-089, PI-099, PI124; PI-125, QI-084, PI-143, PI-146, PI-155, PI-175. PI-003, PI-007, PI-096, QI-078, QI-082, V-330. PI-067, PI-068, PI-160. PI-003, PI-004, PI-146. PI-003, PI-005, PI-007, PI-067, PI-068, QI-084. A/HRC/31/71, para. 48. A/HRC/39/CRP.2, para. 1374.