A/HRC/33/37 experts’ investigations. Incidents recorded by the independent experts from Burundian refugee women and girls reveal various forms of sexual and gender-based violence experienced both in Burundi and beyond, during flight from the country. 57. Witnesses and victims told the independent experts that many of the women who had fled the country were subjected to sexual violence, while in flight, by Imbonerakure members, unidentified armed men and border guards, including as a punishment for leaving the country “while there was no war”. 58. The independent experts obtained credible information indicating that many Burundian women and girls related to males who opposed a third term for the President, or who were perceived as political dissidents, became the targets of physical and sexual violence by elements of the security forces. 59. In a number of cases documented by the independent experts, the victims were sexually mutilated. For instance, in August 2015 a woman in Cibitoke was sexually mutilated by Imbonerakure members who were searching for her husband. She stated that when they did not find him, they tied her hands behind her back and hit her. She added: “They put their hands inside my vagina until the uterus came out. I was left alone bleeding, screaming. The neighbours came out and they tried to put my uterus back in place.” 60. In Cibitoke, a witness stated that in April 2015 armed men dressed in military uniforms entered her neighbour’s house. The following day, the witness found her neighbour dead, with wood inserted in her vagina. 61. The independent experts also recorded first- and second-hand allegations of sexual violence against men, in particular in detention. In May 2015, a man detained by the National Intelligence Service for 18 days was reportedly forced to spread his legs and was severely beaten on his genitals, causing permanent erectile dysfunction. A male student who refused to join the Imbonerakure was reportedly picked up by classmates and taken to a house where he was reportedly handcuffed and raped by three men while others watched. E. Excessive use of force 62. Several reports by international, regional and national organizations have condemned the conduct of the Burundian security forces during the demonstrations. 14 The authorities now insist that the demonstrations were never peaceful. The information collected by the independent experts indicates that the police used excessive force against demonstrators who had been chanting slogans against the President, with some of them throwing stones and blocking intersections. None of these actions merited law enforcement officers using firearms, including against fleeing demonstrators. Moreover, even after having gained control over the demonstrators, the police generally arrested and beat up demonstrators, notably young men, in flagrant violation of the international standards on the use of force.15 63. The independent experts visited the quarters of the anti-riot brigade in Bujumbura. Among the commanders there seemed to be very little awareness of alternative techniques of managing demonstrations or the use of non-lethal weapons. When asked whether the members of the unit had received special training, the commanders said that they had not and the answer to the question about how the members had been selected was “physical strength”. 14 15 See, e.g., A/HRC/32/30. See, e.g., the Basic Principles on the use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (1990). 11