Forced Labor

Thousands of civilians are forced into modern-day slavery as forced laborers. Children as young as ten years old and men and women as old as 80 are taken as porters, forced to carry heavy ammunition or build roads for the Army with no compensation. If they do not work fast enough, they are beaten with batons and guns. If they refuse to work or attempt to flee, they are tortured, and if they become physically incapable of portering, they are killed or left behind to die. Furthermore, porters are used as human minesweepers, made to walk ahead of the Burmese Army in areas that are littered with landmines. Read more on the issue>>

Forced Relocation, Refugees, and Internally Displaced Persons

In conjunction with the ongoing expansion of the Burmese Army operations in ethnic areas, it has been forcibly relocating ethnic communities from the forested mountains to sites which are closer and under military-controlled vehicle roads and army camps. The Burmese Army uses tactics of intimidation and violence to enforce compliance from the villagers with relocation orders. These tactics include: attacks on villages, with widespread destruction of homes, farm fields and plantations; the confiscation of food and livestock; a shoot-on-sight policy targeting civilians; restrictions on movement out of and within non-military-controlled areas; and the deployment of landmines in civilian areas. Read more on the issue here>>

Child Soldiers

In addition, forced conscription of minors into the Army has grown at an alarming rate over recent years. To date, Burma has the highest number of child soldiers in the world. Children as young as 11 are forcibly recruited to serve in the army, carrying guns as tall as their petite bodies. Once deployed, boys as young as 12 engage in combat against opposition groups and civilians, and are forced to commit human rights violations, such as carrying out executions and burning villages. Read more on the issue>>

Sexual Violence Against Women

Meanwhile, rape is used a weapon of war against ethnic women, in an attempt to shame and destroy the spirit and morality of victims and their communities. Reports have shown that sexual violence in Burma has reached chronic acute stages. Rape is no longer just a by-product of war but rather a systematic strategy used to intimidate and destroy ethnic populations. Facilitating the perpetuation of rape in Burma is the aura of impunity for the depraved behavior that is tolerated and ordained by state policy involving authorities at all levels from the executive, judiciary, and military.Read more on the issue>>