The report documents how detainees are routinely held incommunicado, deprived of legal counsel and medical treatment, and subjected to sustained assaults aimed at breaking their resistance. Survivors recounted being beaten with iron rods, bamboo poles, and rifle butts; burned with cigarettes; and subjected to simulated drowning through waterboarding. Electric shocks were reported as a common interrogation method, often applied to sensitive areas to maximize pain and humiliation.

Sexual violence was also a recurring tactic, with both male and female detainees reporting rape, sexual assault, and threats of sexual harm against family members. In some cases, victims were forced to witness the abuse of others as a means of psychological coercion. The UN says these acts have been recorded in multiple states and regions, showing that they are not isolated incidents but part of an organized, nationwide strategy to suppress dissent.

Crimes Against Humanity And Calls For Accountability

Investigators concluded that the torture campaign is “systematic, deliberate, and centrally directed,” meeting the legal threshold for crimes against humanity. The report urges the UN Security Council and member states to pursue accountability mechanisms, including targeted sanctions against military leaders and referral of the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court.

The UN also called for greater international support for documentation and evidence preservation efforts, warning that without coordinated action, the cycle of abuse will persist. It further stressed the need for protection measures for survivors and witnesses, many of whom face continued threats even after their release.