A/HRC/7/18 page 19 F. Situation of women 84. The sudden rise in fuel prices on 15 August 2007 demonstrated the already harsh conditions and the everyday struggle to meet basic needs for millions of women and girls in the country. Palaung women, for example, reported to the Special Rapporteur that their purchasing power fell to a record low following the hike in fuel prices, since household budgets were basically allocated to the purchase of food staples such as rice, rather than other products, such as tea, which is their reported main production. 85. The health conditions of female inmates is also an issue of concern. When the Special Rapporteur visited Insein prison in November, he had the opportunity, at his request, to meet in private with Su Su Nway, who had been arrested during the visit of the Special Rapporteur to Myanmar. Su Su Nway reportedly received medical treatment during the month following the visit. It is reported that, since then, she has not had access to her daily medication, resulting in the worsening of her health. 86. The situation of women caught in conflict in ethnic areas is appalling. The Special Rapporteur received reports and testimonies from women who were forced to flee their villages following the burning of their houses and the stealing of their cattle. Although some have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, their living conditions remain desperate. 87. The Special Rapporteur is not aware of any Government initiative to address the consistent and continuing pattern of impunity by members of the military involved in the high number of allegations of sexual violence against women and girls. The failure to investigate, prosecute and punish those responsible for rape and sexual violence has contributed to an environment conducive to the perpetuation of those acts against women and girls in Myanmar. VII. CONCLUDING REMARKS 88. The human rights concerns enumerated in the present report are largely the same as those highlighted by the Special Rapporteur in his reports since 2001. It should be noted that the crackdown of the demonstrations of August and September 2007, the increased army deployment in certain ethnic areas and the implementation of major development projects are also opening new fronts in the patterns of human rights abuses observed since the establishment of the mandate. 89. The Special Rapporteur deplores the fact that the apparent willingness of the Government to address these problems when the Special Rapporteur first took up his mandate seven years ago has disappeared. The recommendations formulated by the General Assembly (the latest being resolution 62/222), the Security Council, the Human Rights Council (notably resolutions S-5/1 of the special session of 2 October 2007 and 6/33), the Commission on Human Rights, the Secretary-General and his Special Adviser, the thematic special procedures mandate-holders, as well as those advocated by the Special Rapporteur and relevant human rights treaty bodies have regrettably not been implemented.