Suu Kyi addresses to Conference on ‘Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict’

By Canadian Friends of Burma, Ottawa – May 24, 2011

On May 23rd yesterday Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi addressed to a conference on ‘Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict’ that is currently being held in Montebello, Canada.

Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Laureate and honorary member of the Nobel Women's Initiative that holds the conference, discussed how rape is used as a tool of war to divide societies, genders, ethnic groups and peoples within a country. She highlights the need for education and dialogue among both men and women to eradicate rape as a tool of war.

To watch her speech, please click the following link: http://www.nobelwomensinitiative.org/blogs/newsecurity/post/aung-san-suu-kyi-on-sexual-violence-in-conflict

K'Nway Paw from the Women League of Burma also attended the conference, along with 120 women from all over the world including three female Noble Peace Laureates, and participated in the plenary of Justice and Accountability. She said, “Military in Burma using rape as weapon of war” and “Women in Burma are facing violence at every level,” and her organization, the Women League of Burma (WLB), is tracking and publishing evidence, and “calling for a referral of the head to the military regime to International Criminal Court.”

Canada already supported the initiative of establishing a UN ‘commission of inquiry’ into human rights violations in Burma, along with fourteen other countries including three veto-wielding powers: U.S., U.K, and France. However, K'Nway Paw noted that no international actions have been able to take against the regime for political reason, pointing the finger at China that blocked the effort at the UN Security Council.