Please print and send this letter to William Hague MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

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William Hague MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH

Dear Foreign Secretary

In 2000 and 2008 respectively, Britain voted in favour of Resolutions 1325 and 1820 at the United Nations Security Council. A goal of these Resolutions was ending the use of rape and sexual violence against women where conflict is taking place.

Since these resolutions were passed, they have been defied by the Burmese Army. In fact, in the past year, there are reports that the Burmese Army has stepped up its use of rape, gang-rape and sexual violence against ethnic women. Recent documented cases include the rape of a 12 year old girl in front of her mother, and a disabled woman.

The British government is aware of the ongoing widespread and systematic use of rape as a weapon of war by the Burmese Army, and can do more to try to prevent this taking place.

Britain has been one of the few countries to raise Burma when Resolutions 1325 and 1820 are discussed by the United Nations Security Council. However, these have been passing references, and you must now go further. There must be full discussions on what is taking place in Burma, and proposals for action to stop these attacks.

Of the cases of rape that have been documented last year, almost half the women who were raped were also killed.  This cannot be allowed to continue.

You must ensure that first the United Nations Security Council acknowledges what is taking place in Burma, and then takes action to stop it.

Yours sincerely

Download a Word version of this letter here.