Sexual and gender-based violence in Myanmar and the gendered impact of its ethnic conflicts in English
forced to participate in raping women together with prison officials. During his release
from prison, officials warned him not to speak about the sexual violence and killings he
saw in the prison or he would suffer reprisal as well as his family. 359
163. Forced nudity was another form of sexual humiliation used against Rohingya men
and boys in detention.360 The practice was pervasive and as part of a pattern of degrading
treatment at Buthidaung prison. The Mission received credible reports of officials ordering
detainees to strip naked in front of one another and shower in groups, including in front of
family members, which is considered a shameful and demeaning act. 361 At times, detainees
were forced to remain naked until they dried. Prison officials kept their clothes.362 Rohingya
detainees in Buthidaung prison were punished by “fuinza”, “a teaching of behaviour” based
on a set of methods that teach detainees to behave in specific ways through the use of
physical violence and other forms of coercion. A former detainee said that method number
eight of the nine different methods was forced nudity, with detainees ordered to lie down on
the floor while naked before each other.363 Non-Rohingya detainees hit elderly Rohingya
detainees hard on their penises when they did not walk fast. In one instance, a detainee was
subjected to humiliation of a sexual nature when ethnic Rakhine urinated into his mouth
after he asked for water because he was thirsty. 364 In another instance a detainee at
Buthidaung prison was urinated upon as he was beaten on his penis and anus with a stick by
ethnic Rakhine.365
164. Apart from rape and other forms of sexual violence at Buthidaung prison, the
Mission received reports of security forces perpetrating similar acts on Rohingya men and
boys detained in prisons in Maungdaw Township,366 Kyauk Pyu Township,367 and in
NaSaka cells and military camps or bases.368 Victims suffered various forms of rape and
sexual and gender-based violence during arrest or while in detention. The common types of
abuses included, but were not limited to, forced nudity, burning of genitals and dripping hot
wax on penises.369 Verified reports from survivors and witnesses of sexual violence indicate
that the beating of genitals and penetration of their bodies with objects such as bamboo
sticks, branches from trees, metal objects and batons were rampant during rapes and other
sexual violence. Additionally, verbal insults or beatings were perpetrated as they were tied
up or hand-cuffed.370
165. In 2012, at May Rulla camp in Southern Maungdaw, perpetrators raped the victims
anally and penile including oral sex. Various objects were utilised including sticks, batons
and other blunt instruments.371 The objects were inserted in the anus of victims and used to
beat them. A victim described how he was forced to undress and assume a squatting
position by police and non-Rohingya who struck his penis and anus with a stick, beating
him repeatedly from front to back.372
166. The Mission received credible information about a pattern of abuse of minors that
took place in Buthidaung prison.373 Detainees who spoke to the Mission reported that
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361
362
363
364
365
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FI-047.
CI-130, CI-136, DI-037, QI-105, QI-106, QI-108, KI-076.3, KI-076.4, KI-076.5.
K-076.3, K-076.4, QI-108, QI-106.
K-076.3, K-076.4, K-076.5.
CI-136.
QI-108.
NI-008.
DI-037, QI-108.
FI-047.
NI-006, NI-008.
EI-092, EI-096, LI-022, CI-136.
NI-008, DI-037,CI-136.
NI-008, NI-006.
NI-008.
DI-037, FI-047, QI-108, CI-136, QI-107,CI-136, L1-22, FI-052, FI-053.
39
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