Join Women from Burma

DEAR FRIENDS,
Join us in standing in solidarity with the women human rights 
defenders in Burma by supporting their campaign for a United Nations 
General Assembly resolution establishing a Commission of Inquiry on 
possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma. The 
Laureates sent letters to Foreign Ministers this week to call for 
their government’s support for the Commission of Inquiry.

UN member states will meet this September at the sixty-fifth session 
of the General Assembly, where ongoing human rights violations within 
Burma will be discussed. Women in Burma are particularly at risk, as 
renewed military offences in the Shan and Kachin states has increased 
sexual violence. Government forces use rape as a weapon of war against 
the ethnic communities and dozens of women and girls have come forward 
since the start of 2011 to tell their story.

Take action now and urge your governments to vote for the resolution 
to establish the Commission of Inquiry. Write to your Foreign Ministry 
sending a clear message that the international community does not 
accept human rights violations against the Burmese people.

Download a sample letter and a list of Foreign Ministers’ names and 
contact information and to find out more information on Burma and the 
Commission of Inquiry at http://bit.ly/p4b6KQ (also attached here).

Tell your friends to join the action!

Best,

-------------------

TAKE ACTION ONLINE

Join us on Twitter <http://twitter.com/nobelwomen>;  and Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/nobelwomen
>  to raise awareness about the ongoing human rights violations in 
Burma and the impact a Commission of Inquiry would have. Make sure to 
use the hashtag #burmainquiry to urge action now!

Sample Tweets:

#Burma gvt uses rape as weapon of war. Write your gvt urging 
#burmainquiry - Commission of Inquiry on war crimes http://bit.ly/p4b6KQ

Aung San Suu Kyi wants Commission of Inquiry into #Burma human rights 
abuses! Write your gvt to support #burmainquiry: http://bit.ly/p4b6KQ

#Burma continues a war against its ppl. Write your gvt urging 
#burmainquiry - a Commission of Inquiry on war crimes: http://bit.ly/p4b6KQ

Sample Facebook Posts:

The government of Burma continues to wage war against its population 
despite promising reforms. This year, after launching military 
activities in the northern provinces - dozens of women have been raped 
as part of a strategy of war. Burma cannot be immune from the law. 
Join me in sending a letter to our government calling for the UN to 
form a #burmainquiry - Commission of Inquiry into possible war crimes 
in Burma: http://bit.ly/p4b6KQ

Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi recently condemned the use of rape as 
a weapon of war within her country. But the government of Burma 
continues to ignore all calls for investigations into war crimes by 
its military. Join me in asking our government to support the UN to 
form a #burmainquiry - a Commission of Inquiry on possible war crimes 
- the first step in justice for the women of Burma: http://bit.ly/p4b6KQ
LEARN MORE
For more information on the human rights crisis in Burma, visit: the 
Kachin Women’s Association Thailand <http://www.kachinwomen.org/>;   
and the Shan Women’s Action Network <http://www.shanwomen.org/>;.

Want to know more about how the Commission of Inquiry would help the 
women of Burma? Download this document with more information about the 
Commission of Inquiry on Burma. <http://www.nobelwomensinitiative.org/images/stories/Burma/Commission_of_Inquiry_Burma_Info_Aug_2011.pdf



SAMPLE LETTER:
Name of Foreign Minister
City, Province/State
Zip Code/Postal Code
Country

Your Excellency,

We are writing to ask your support in ensuring our government 
favorably votes for a resolution at the sixty-fifth session of the 
UN General Assembly this September 2011, to establish a Commission 
of Inquiry into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in 
Burma.

The Burmese military regime continues to enact unspeakable human 
rights violations against its population. Sham elections and broken 
promises of democratic reform have not improved a miserable 
situation. Women have been particularly affected, with the state 
launching military offensives in the northern Shan and Kachin 
provinces. Government soldiers are continuing to commit serious 
crimes against the ethnic populations with complete impunity. Dozens 
of women have been raped since January 2011, and refugees note that 
government soldiers declared they were ordered to do so, adding to 
previous evidence of sexual violence as a weapon of war within Burma.

Despite ongoing calls to investigate atrocities committed by its 
forces, the Burmese state has taken no action. The military regime 
continuously ignores all calls to adhere to international 
humanitarian law and human rights law. Civil society groups have 
declared that a “humanitarian crisis is looming.”

The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma repeatedly had 
his investigations hindered by authorities and recommended that a 
Commission for Inquiry be established to fully investigate the 
extent of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Nobel Peace 
Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has expressed her support for the 
formation of a Commission, stating that it was her hope the 
international community would fully implement the recommendations of 
the Special Rapporteur.

The ongoing violence in Burma and the military regime’s continued 
disregard of obligations under international law demonstrates the 
dire need for action to be taken in support of the Burmese 
population. This is an opportune time for our government to show its 
leadership and commitment to democracy, human rights, and justice.

We urge you to do all you can to ensure that our government votes in 
favor of the resolution on a Commission of Inquiry into possible war 
crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Liz Bernstein
Executive Director
Nobel Women's Initiative - advocating for peace, justice & equality
430-1 Nicholas St.
Ottawa ON K1N7B7
Canada
Tel:  +1 613 569-8400, ext. 111
Fax: +1 613 691-1419
lbernstein@nobelwomensinitiative.org
www.nobelwomensinitiative.org