Sexual and gender-based violence in Myanmar and the gendered impact of its ethnic conflicts in English assumptions of invulnerability to such violence.347 Victims and survivors who have reported sexual violence are still faced with challenges in accessing appropriate care. The Mission notes that services for the reporting, protection, and care of men and boys victims of sexual violence is still inadequate in Myanmar and in the refugee camps in Bangladesh.348 It is also concerned that, since the publication of its 2018 report, the limited legal protection afforded by Myanmar’s domestic law has not improved,349 leaving victims without any redress, such as reparations, health care, psychosocial care and legal aid for the sexual violence suffered.350 These are important matters that must be addressed to assist survivors in the healing process and re-integration back into society. Rape and sexual violence against men and boys in detention settings 159. Following the violence in June 2012, Rohingya men and boys, some as young as twelve, were picked up from the streets and detained at Buthidaung prison, where many were subjected to sexual violence. The Mission heard reports of non-Rohingya prisoners taking boys from the cells at night and raping them anally and orally.351 One former detainee explained, that the ethnic Rakhine “preferred the beautiful young men, with fair skin”.352 160. Sexual violence was a method and tactic used to elicit confessions from the Rohingya accused of being aligned with ARSA.353 “They made me kneel in a squatting position as they beat me with sticks from behind, hitting my penis and shoving sticks up my anus.”354 161. Sexual violence was also used to humiliate and shame355 detainees and to provide the perpetrators with sexual gratification.356 The sexual violence was perpetrated predominantly in the first few months of a person’s detention by prison officials or by ethnic Rakhine in the presence of prison officials.357 162. The Mission received reports that some male detainees were killed or “disappeared” by prison officials after suffering multiple rapes in Buthidaung prison.358 A detainee at Buthidaung, who witnessed sexual violence, and was a victim himself of multiple rapes since the age of 14. He informed the Mission that he was gang raped multiple times a day by prison officials and ethnic Rakhine. Despite this, he considered himself lucky after seeing prisoners from his ward strangled by their rapists. While in detention he was also 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 38 Jana Naujoks, Myat Thandar Ko “Pulling the strings: Masculinities, gender and social conflict in Myanmar ”.(November 2018),p.23; see also, S/RES /2467, (2019) para. 32. Member States have been urged to protect victims who are men and boys through the strengthening of policies that offer appropriate responses to male survivors and challenge cultural assumptions about male invulnerability to such violence. Women’s Refugee Commission, “It’s happening to our men as well”: Sexual Violence Against Rohingya Men and Boys pp.12, 15, 31-43. (November 2018). A/HRC/39/CRP.2 para. 193. S/RES /2467, (2019) para. 28. “Stresses that acts of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict can be part of the strategic objectives and ideology of, and used as a tactic by certain parties to armed conflict, including non-state armed groups, designated as terrorist groups and therefore affirms that victims of sexual violence, committed by certain parties to armed conflict, including non-state armed groups designated as terrorist groups, should have access to national relief and reparations programmes, as well as health care, psychosocial care, safe shelter, livelihood support and legal aid and that services should include provisions for women with children born as a result of sexual violence in conflict, as well as men and boys who may have been victims of sexual violence in conflict including in detention settings; contribute to lifting the sociocultural stigma attached to this category of crime and facilitate rehabilitation and reintegration efforts.” CI-136, QI-108, DI-037, QI-107. CI-136. A/HRC/39/CRP.2. para. 1364. NI-008. CI-130, CI-136, DI-037, QI-105, QI-106, QI-108; K-076.3, K-076.4, K-076.5, NI-016. FI-047, FI-053, QI-108. K-076.3. FI-047, FI-052, FI-053.