EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

To immediately implement a nationwide ceasefire in order to stop increased militarization and anti-insurgency campaigns in the ethnic states;

To begin tripartite dialogue with representatives of non-Burman ethnic nationalities and the democratic opposition on the country's political future;

To respect fully their obligations under international humanitarian law, including article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, to halt the use of weapons against the civilian population, to protect all civilians, including children, women and persons belonging to ethnic or religious minorities, from violations of humanitarian law;

To respect fully their obligations under the ILO 1930 Convention concerning forced or compulsory labour (No. 29);

To end the continuing violations of the human rights of women, in particular forced labour, forced relocations, abuse, torture, sexual violence, exploitation and abuse in detention and summary executions, often committed by military personnel and especially directed towards women who are returning refugees, internally displaced, or belong to ethnic groups or the political opposition;

To put an end to the causes of the systematic forced displacements of persons and the flow of refugees to neighbouring countries and create adequate conditions for their safe and voluntary return and complete reintegration, to allow humanitarian personnel safe and unhindered access to assist their return and reintegration, and to address the problems of trafficking of women and children, especially in the border area;

To fulfil its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women by bringing national legislation and practice into conformity with these conventions, and to consider signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as well as the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child;

To implement fully the recommendations made by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in particular the request to prosecute and punish those who violate the human rights of women;

To give protection to Shan civilians along the Thai-Shan border by allowing them to cross the border into Thailand and to access refugee camps and UNHCR.

To allow Shan asylum seekers access to humanitarian aid agencies based in Thailand.

To exercise particular caution in relation to the deportation of Shan migrant workers as many are genuine refugees.

To not repatriate Shan women into the hands of the Burmese army.

The governments of Thailand and Burma should allow the international community and UNHCR to participate in any discussions, negotiations and/or repatriation programs involving Burmese migrants. Such discussions must address the root causes for the outflow of migrant workers.

To not allow political developments in Burma to act as a 'smokescreen' on the continuing human rights violations occurring predominantly in the non-Burman ethnic nationality areas;

To pressure the SPDC to fulfil the recommendations above, which are based on the Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/67 on the 'Situation of human rights in [Burma]', and to withhold all forms of aid to the regime until irreversible changes are made towards democratic reform in Burma.

To pressure UN agencies and international NGOs working in the ethnic states of Burma to publicly bear witness to the atrocities being committed by the SPDC against civilians in these areas, since their silence makes them complicit in these abuses.