ND Burma
ND-Burma formed in 2004 in order to provide a way for Burma human rights organizations to collaborate on the human rights documentation process. The 13 ND-Burma member organizations seek to collectively use the truth of what communities in Burma have endured to advocate for justice for victims. ND-Burma trains local organizations in human rights documentation; coordinates members’ input into a common database using Martus, a secure open-source software; and engages in joint-advocacy campaigns.
Recent Posts
- Nearly 500 cases of sexual assault against women in Myanmar’s conflict
- Two women killed in airstrike on Oakkan village, Kawlin Township in northwest Myanmar
- Political prisoner dies due to lack of adequate medical care in Myanmar’s Dawei Prison
- Patterns of Military Oppression In 2023-2024
- Sexual abuse and violence worsens in Myanmar factories: activists
Myanmar: Repeal Section 66(d) of the 2013 Telecommunications Law
/in Press Releases and StatementsMyanmar: Repeal Section 66(d) of the 2013 Telecommunications Law
Joint statement by 61 Myanmar and international human rights organizations
Concerned by reports that the Myanmar authorities will retain the criminal defamation provision of Section 66(d) during a review of the Telecommunications Law, 61 national and international human rights organizations are urging the Myanmar authorities, and in particular the Ministry of Transport and Communication and the Parliament, to ensure it is repealed in the amended law.
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International Day in Support of Victims of Torture Event
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International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 26 June 2017
/in Press Releases and StatementsInternational Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 26 June 2017
Ending Torture, Addressing the Needs of Survivors
is Key to Building Peace and Democracy
Network for Human Rights Documentation-Burma (ND-Burma), the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (AAPP), Women’s League of Burma (WLB), the Vimutti Women’s Organization (VWO) and Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) are calling for an end to torture, and for rehabilitation of torture survivors.
ND-Burma, AAPP, WLB, VWO and AJAR are jointly organising a public event in Yangon (14:00-16:00 at Royal Rose Restaurant, Shwegondine, Bahan, Yangon) to mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. At the event torture survivors, and civil society organizations working with them, will share about their experiences and what can be done to assist victims of torture. The Burmese language version of the United Nations Convention Against Torture (CAT) will also be launched by AAPP at the event.
Torture is not a practice of the past; it continues to be used in Myanmar by State and non-State actors. The rise in reports of torture in ethnic areas affected by current conflicts is especially troubling. Torture is still used during detention and interrogation, often in an effort to procure information or to force confessions. Villagers suspected of being affiliated with ethnic armed groups are frequently captured by military and tortured indiscriminately. Torture also includes acts of sexual violence. It is the government’s responsibility to stop and prevent torture in its jurisdiction.
The government must ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture, and other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). It would be an important first step in eradicating torture in Myanmar. It would also be a symbolic pledge of solidarity with survivors.
Torture survivors have a right to reparations and support. Many face ongoing and serious health problems, which can lead to early and untimely death for some victims. Access to health care is an urgent need. Other needs include psychosocial support, vocational training, and public acknowledgement. Reparations and addressing the needs of torture survivors must be priorities of the government. They should be items for discussion in parliament and must be included in current peace process discussions.
In order to demonstrate its commitment to eliminating the practice of torture, we call on the government of Myanmar to implement the following recommendations:
We call on government and all non-State actor groups to stop practicing torture in any form.
Yangon, 26 June 2017
ND-Burma, AAPP, WLB, VWand AJAR
Contact persons:
About ND-Burma www.nd-burma.org
ND-Burma formed in 2004 in order to provide a way for Burma human rights organizations to collaborate on the human rights documentation process. Seven member organizations and nine affiliate organizations seek to collectively use the truth of what communities in Burma have endured to challenge the regime’s power through present-day advocacy as well as prepare for justice and accountability measures in a potential transition. ND-Burma conducts fieldwork trainings; coordinates members’ input into a common database using Martus, open-source software developed by Benetech; and engages in joint-advocacy campaigns. When possible, ND-Burma also collaborates with other human rights organizations in all aspects of its work.
About Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) www.aappb.org
AAPP was founded in 2000 by former political prisoners living in exile on the Thai/Burma border. Since then, the organization has been run by former political prisoners, and has opened offices inside Myanmar in Rangoon and Mandalay. AAPP advocates and lobbies for the release of remaining political prisoners and for the improvement of the lives of political prisoners after their release. The various assistance programs for political prisoners and their family members are aimed at ensuring they have access to education, vocational trainings, mental health counseling and healthcare.
About Vimutti Women’s Organization (VWO)
Vimutti Women’s Organization (VWO) is a community-based organization, which was created in 2009. Vimutti is a Pali word (Myanmar ancient literature), which means “freedom”. All VWO members are socially minded volunteers. VWO is very active in communities doing social work, humanitarian support, and providing educational charity to children from poverty-stricken families. VWO is directly engaging with vulnerable people to create a healthy societal environment through research, advocacy, networking, and improving their collective capacity development. VWO has a special program for strengthening women former political prisoners.
About Women’s League of Burma (WLB) www.womenofburma.org
The Women’s League of Burma (WLB) is an umbrella organization comprised of 13 women’s organizations of different ethnic backgrounds from Burma. WLB was founded on 9th December 1999. Its mission is to work for women’s empowerment and advancement of the status of women, and to work for the increased participation of women in all spheres of society in the democracy movement, and in peace and national reconciliation process through capacity building, advocacy, research and documentation.
About Asia Justice And Rights (AJAR) www.asia-ajar.org
AJAR is a regional human rights organization based in Jakarta. AJAR works to increase the capacity of local and national organization in the fight against entrenched impunity and to contribute to building cultures based on accountability, justice and a willingness to learn from the root causes of mass human rights violations in Asia Pacific region.
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Invitation Letter for International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
/in NewsInternational Day in Support of Victims of Torture
We would like to cordially invites you to join the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture organized by VWO, AJAR, APPA, ND-Burma and WLB.
The event will held at the Royal Rose Restaurant, 221 Shwegondine, Yangon, from 02: 00 PM to 04:00 PM on 26.6.207.
We will distribute the Burmese version of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. We will have penal discussion and performance by the survivors of torture.
Note – We would like to request you all bring your translator as the event will be conducted in Burmese.
Place – Royal Rose Restaurant, Shwe Gontai, Yangon
Date – 26.6.2017
Time – 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM
3rd Reparation Workshop
/in Photo newsYangon
Organized by
Asia Justice and Rights
and
Network for Human Rights Documentation Burma
ND-Burma launches Justice newsletter
/in Justice NewslettersSign up to ND-Burma’s new monthly justice newsletter:
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Seeking justice in Burma
Please find below ND-Burma’s new monthly newsletter compiling all developments on recognition and redress for human rights violations in Burma.
ND-Burma publishes briefing urging Government to discuss justice at 21st Century Panglong
On 22 May ND-Burma published the briefing ‘Without Justice there can be no Peace’, which outlined its 13 member organizations’ hopes, expectations and criticisms of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference. The briefing called on the Government to:
28 Burmese expatriates to regain citizenship
The Government confirmed that 28 Burmese expatriates who had lost their citizenship after applying for foreign passports or residency will have it re-instated. Dual citizenship is prohibited under Burma’s 1982 Citizenship Law and tens of thousands of Burmese exiles who fled the military regime lost their citizenship after applying for legal status in their host countries. This included thousands of political activists and human rights defenders, many of whom have had their citizenship re-instated by a committee set up under the Thein Sein Government.
However, several activists – including some ND-Burma members – have submitted applications which have yet to be approved by the committee. According to the Government, of the 55 people who submitted applications under the new government, 33 have yet to be reviewed.
The restitution of citizenship is an important development in transitional justice as it shows the Government recognizes the need to restore full civil rights to those who lost them for political reasons.
U Win Tin clinic almost shuts due to funding issues;
Former political prisoners call for transitional justice
The U Win Tin clinic in Yangon, which provides free medical services to former political prisoners, was close to being shuttered due to funding issues. Despite reports it had temporarily closed, its Director U Htin Aung told ND-Burma it had managed to stay open in order to care for the 900 regular patients it sees, despite not having sufficient medication. Since its inception in 2012, the clinic has cared for thousands of former political prisoners and their families, who receive no financial or medical assistance from the Government.
ND-Burma partner organization, the Former Political Prisoners Society (FPPS), has noted that political prisoners often work as de-facto social workers, providing services such as health care and psychological assistance that should be provided by the Government. FPPS urged the Government to allow political prisoners to use their experience and expertise to contribute to state building instead of just pro-bono service provision.
In an opinion piece for weekly Frontier Myanmar former political prisoner Khin Zaw Win argued that ‘a reckoning looms on human rights,’ and called on the Government to allow truth seeking in order to build a system that respects the rule of law.
Specialist on ethnic politics calls for discussion on transitional justice
Dr. Ashley South, who is a Research Fellow at the Center for Ethnic Studies at Chiang Mai University, said in an interview with JusticeInfo.net that there was a “striking lack of discussion on transitional justice” in Burma. He ascribed this to the fact that initial discussion about holding the military account, which were taking place around 1988-89, ended after the military aborted any moves towards transition following the 1990 election. “There are certainly many traumatised individuals, families and communities who have suffered greatly. I am sure that among these diverse communities there is strong demand [for transitional justice],” he said.