Charm Tong, one of Burma’s best-known human rights activists and a founder of the Shan Women's Action Network, met the Leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron, and the Shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague on April 24, a day before testifying at the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission’s hearing on Burma.

Charm Tong, aged 24, is one of the authors of the report Licence to Rape, published in 2002, which documents widespread evidence of sexual violence by the Burma Army. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Reebok Human Rights Award and the Marie-Claire Woman of the World Award. She was also nominated as one of TIME magazine’s “Asian Heroes”, and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

In a 30-minute discussion in Mr. Cameron’s offices, Charm Tong highlighted the current deteriorating situation in Burma, and the plight of the over one million internally displaced people (IDPs). She appealed for the UK to continue to push for the issue of Burma to be brought to the UN Security Council agenda, and to provide more support for IDPs, refugees and pro-democracy groups.