A Burmese female activist addressing a United Nations conference on state-sponsored rape has presented evidence of the systematic use of rape by Burma's military.
The London-based human rights group, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said Tuesday Cheery Zahau, Coordinator of the Women's League of Chinland, highlighted 38 cases of rape by the Burmese army against ethnic Chin women.
The activist told the conference in New York some of the rapes resulted in the death of the victim, and that several victims were 18 years old or younger.
Cheery Zahau said there is a collective understanding among troops that they can rape with impunity. She urged the UN Security Council to continue addressing this issue.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all.
Earlier this month, a Thailand-based woman's group the Karen Women's Organization accused Burma's military government of subjecting ethnic Karen women to rape, assault, murder and forced labor.
The group's "State of Terror" report says the military is using rape as a tool to intimidate, control, shame and ethnically cleanse Karen groups in Burma.
