A/HRC/39/CRP.2 men and boys, including rape,2126 genital mutilation2127 and sexualised torture, sometimes leading to death.2128 The scale of this sexual violence remains unknown. The patriarchal nature of the Rohingya community, combined with the centrality of religious leaders in the community, make it extremely difficult for men and boys to discuss sexual violence against them. Isolation, attachment to cultural references and low levels of education further prevent an accurate assessment of the extent of sexual violence against men and boys. 940. During detention, which was prevalent during the “clearance operations”, there are consistent credible reports of men and boys being subjected to sexual violence, including rape, sexualised torture and humiliation by authorities or in their presence. 2129 The extent of sexual violence against men and boys in northern Rakhine throughout this period warrants further investigation. 941. Individuals, families and the wider Rohingya community have been highly traumatised by the brutal sexual violence, which they suffered or witnessed. Rape was used as a form of torture, to terrorise the community and as a tactic of war. It continues to have a devastating and lasting impact on the individuals who suffered from it, their families and the wider Rohingya community, both physically and mentally. The Mission has concluded that the widespread sexual violence and the manner in which it was perpetrated was an intended effort, at least in part, to weaken the social cohesion of the Rohingya community and contribute to the destruction of the Rohingya as a group and the breakdown of the Rohingya way of life.2130 Attacks on and grave violations against children 942. During the “clearance operations”, infants and children were indiscriminately killed and in some instances targeted for killing.2131 Infants and children were frequently killed by gunfire, stabbed or burned to death. 2132 A health survey produced by Médecins Sans Frontiers observed that, after 25 August 2017, 57.5 per cent of child deaths under the age of five resulted from violence and, of those deaths, 56.5 per cent of children died from gunshot wounds.2133 943. In some instances, children were targeted for killing and their parents were left alive.2134 A 23-year old woman from Chin Tha Mar, Buthidaung Township, described: I was able to see the killings through the door crack to the yard. When the soldiers started shooting, all women were screaming. They even killed an eight-year old child. During the night, I escaped and I saw so many dead bodies including children. Most of the children were boys, but there were girls too.2135 944. A father from Kyauk Chaung village tract, Maungdaw Township, recalled: A son and daughter of mine were taking a bath in a pond. I was about to call them in to have some food. They were six and four years old. My son was shot in the head. My daughter then fell to the floor and was screaming. Then there was a second shot. They shot my daughter in the chest. The ricochet of the bullet hit me in the foot. I saw that the shots had come from the soldiers standing about 20 feet away from us.2136 2126 2127 2128 2129 2130 2131 2132 2133 2134 2135 2136 218 K-130, V-134. EI-092, EI-096, LI-022. EI-092, EI-096. K-151, V-134; See this chapter, section D.2.b: The build-up to 25 August 2017. K-122, K-124. CI-045, CI-131, CI-136, CI-137, LI-024, LI-025, LI-026, LI-094, LI-099, LI-105, LI-112, LI-115, LI119, LI-148 CI-013, CI-019, CI-035, CI-045, CI-131, CI-136, CI-137, EI-080, LI-024, LI-025, LI-026, LI-054, LI073, LI-094, LI-099, LI-105, LI-112, LI-115, LI-119, QI-036, WI-004, YI-009; YI-028, YI-030, V138. V-086. EI-038, EI-075, LI-085, WI-004, K-076.25, K.076.26. LI-079. QI-026.

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