A United Nations-backed investigative team has presented compelling evidence of widespread and systematic torture within Myanmar's detention facilities. The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), in its latest annual report released on August 12, 2025, documented a disturbing pattern of severe abuses occurring over the past year. The report, compiled from over 1,300 sources including eyewitness testimonies, forensic evidence, and documents, details horrific acts such as beatings, electric shocks, strangulation, gang rape, and the burning of sexual body parts. Nicholas Koumjian, head of the IIMM, stated that the team has uncovered proof of systematic torture in Myanmar's detention centers.
The investigation also highlights the disturbing practice of children being detained as proxies for their parents. The IIMM's mandate extends to abuses in Myanmar dating back to 2011, encompassing the 2017 campaign against the Rohingya and subsequent atrocities following the 2021 military coup. The report notes intensified investigations into airstrikes targeting civilian infrastructure and abuses committed during clashes between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, particularly in Rakhine State. The mechanism is actively collecting and sharing evidence with international judicial bodies like the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, having already supported proceedings leading to arrest warrant requests against Myanmar's military chief. However, the report raises concerns that potential budget cuts at the UN could significantly undermine the IIMM's vital work, threatening the continuity of research on sexual violence and crimes against children, with donations for witness security set to expire at year-end. The ongoing human rights violations and deepening humanitarian crisis continue to affect millions across Myanmar, underscoring the urgent need for sustained international support and accountability.