Myanmar's security forces accused of systematic use of torture, according to a UN report
The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIIM) has uncovered evidence of systematic torture by the country's security forces, including high-ranking commanders, according to a recent report. The torture documented includes beatings, electric shocks, strangulation, gang rape, removal of fingernails with pliers, and burning of sexual body parts, sometimes resulting in death.
The IIIM's findings are based on extensive evidence collected from over 1,300 sources over a one-year period ending June 30, 2025. These sources include eyewitness testimonies, forensic evidence, documents, and photographs. The investigation covers torture in detention facilities and also highlights atrocities committed in conflict zones such as Rakhine state.
The IIIM report accuses both Myanmar security forces and opposition armed groups of carrying out summary executions in the conflict. Tens of thousands of people have been detained in Myanmar since the 2021 military coup, according to the United Nations.
The IIIM has identified high-level commanders within Myanmar's security forces as perpetrators of this systematic torture, though specific names have been withheld due to ongoing investigations and concerns about alerting those individuals.
The military-backed government of Myanmar did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the UN report. The military in Myanmar claims it has a duty to ensure peace and security. However, the IIIM report paints a different picture, one of widespread torture and abuse.
The IIIM is facing financial pressures that threaten its ability to sustain its work and continue supporting international and national justice efforts. Despite these challenges, the IIIM is supporting several jurisdictions investigating the alleged crimes, such as Britain.
Myanmar has been in chaos since the 2021 military coup, plunging the country into civil war. Children, unlawfully detained as proxies for their missing parents, were among those tortured. Victims of this torture were subject to beatings, electric shocks, strangulations, and other forms of physical abuse, including fingernail removal with pliers.
The military has denied atrocities have taken place and has blamed "terrorists" for causing unrest. However, the IIIM's findings provide a stark contrast to these claims, shedding light on the grave human rights abuses taking place in Myanmar.
The IIIM is currently investigating abuses in Myanmar since 2011, including crimes against the Rohingya minority in 2017 and violations affecting all groups since the coup. The organization's work is crucial in holding those responsible for these crimes accountable and in ensuring justice for the victims.
[1] Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, "Report of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar on the Situation in Myanmar," 2025. [2] United Nations Human Rights Council, "Report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar," 2018. [3] Amnesty International, "Myanmar: Torture and other ill-treatment widespread in military detention," 2020. [4] Human Rights Watch, "World Report 2022: Myanmar," 2022. [5] BBC News, "Myanmar: UN warns of 'crimes against humanity' in Rakhine state," 2019.
Read also:
- Massive 8.8 earthquake hits off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami alert.
- Court petitions to reverse established decision on same-sex marriage legalization
- Proposed Standardization of Food Labeling Laws Among Member States by the Commission
- Current News: AfD Achieves 26% - Union Dips to Laschet's Level
