Executive Summary

SWAN has been documenting human rights violations committed by the Burmese military junta since its establishment. In 2002, the Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) and SWAN jointly released the report Licence to Rape1, documenting sexual violence committed by the regime’s troops in Shan State. SWAN has continued to monitor and analyse issues affecting women in Shan State through regular documentation and reporting, with a particular focus on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Burma/ Myanmar is shaped primarily by two factors: deeply entrenched patriarchal norms and the impact of militarization.2 It is not militarization alone that has fuelled these violations. Pre-existing patriarchal gender norms have also contributed significantly to the prevalence and persistence of SGBV across Burma/Myanmar. This report on SGBV and access to justice in Shan State, Burma/Myanmar sheds light on the wide range of SGBV cases committed by both civilians and military personnel. It examines the challenges survivors face in seeking justice and highlights the barriers that continue to impede access to effective remedies and accountability.