United Nations: Special Representative Patten calls for Accountability for Sexual Violence Crimes in Rohingya Crisis

The United Nations Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sexual Violence in Conflict reported that the attacks against the Rohingya community included a widespread pattern rape and other forms of sexual violence against women and girls.  These attacks ultimately led to the migration of nearly 890,000 individuals from Rakhine state, Myanmar to neighboring Bangladesh in search of safety.

Regarding her visits with Rohingya refugees, Special Representative Patten said “almost every woman and girl I spoke with described patterns of rape, gang-rape, forced nudity and abduction for the purpose of sexual slavery....”  The Office of the Special Representative called for continued support for the Government of Bangladesh in order to meet the needs of Rohingya refugees in the country, and to continue exerting pressure on the Government of Myanmar in order to achieve the safe and stable return of the refugees to their homes.  

Compiled from: Boezio, Geraldine, One Year into the Rohingya crisis, Special Representative Patten calls for accountability for sexual violence crimes, United Nations Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sexual Violence in Conflict (August 24, 2018).