A Licnese to Torture ? Torture occurs during security forces raids, arrests, interrogations, detentions and in prisons. The security forces commit unlawful arrests, arbitrary arrests, gender-based violence, sexual harassment, sexual violence, torture and ill-treatment in a systematic and widespread1 manner while the interrogation centers, detention centers and prisons do not comply with international standards and international conventions. Furthermore, torture is often interconnected with violations of other intrinsic rights, for instance, the right to religion and belief and the right to life. Numerous individuals have lost their lives while incarcerated, leaving grieving families without the opportunity to bid farewell to their loved ones. Moreover, many families have discovered disturbing wounds and bruises on the bodies of their deceased family members. These distressing findings serve as evidence that many prisoners were subjected to torture, ultimately causing their death within prison walls. The tragedy of families not being able to see the bodies of their deceased loved ones is an all too common occurrence. The plight of families in Myanmar who have lost loved ones in prisons is a heartbreaking testament to the human rights violations that persist within the country. The denial of access to the bodies and the presence of visible signs of torture on those who are returned only reinforces the fact that many prisoners were killed as a result of brutal acts committed within the prison walls. While the military junta violates not only humanitarian law but also customary international law, it has been responsible for numerous human rights violations, including torture and violence against vulnerable groups such as women, children, and persons with disabilities. These acts of torture are in direct violation of international treaties that Myanmar has already ratified, namely the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). CEDAW, CRC, and CRPD are international legal instruments that aim to protect the rights and well-being of specific groups in society. These treaties establish clear guidelines and obligations for state parties, including Myanmar, to ensure the prevention of torture and violence against women, children, and persons with disabilities. The Myanmar military’s atrocities extend beyond violence and include heinous crimes committed against the civilian population. These crimes have particularly targeted areas where ethnic revolutionary organizations and local communities reside. These actions have resulted in widespread suffering and loss of lives among innocent civilians. 1 “Myanmar military uses systematic torture across country”, AP, October 28, 2021, https://apnews.com/article/myanmar-torture-military-prisons-insein-abuse-390fe5b49337be82ce91639e93e0192f (accessed June 10, 2023) 10 Equality Myanmar