Myanmar: UN Report Maps Pathway To Fulfil Aspirations For Peace, Inclusivity And Democracy

GENEVA (26 May 2025) – In the face of years of suffering and abuse, the vast majority of the people of Myanmar are united in their defiance of military authoritarianism and violence, a report by the UN Human Rights Office finds, calling for renewed international resolve to end the military’s stranglehold on power and to support the democratic aspirations of the Myanmar people.

“Ever since the military disrupted Myanmar’s democratic path in 2021, the country has endured an increasingly catastrophic human rights crisis marked by unabated violence and atrocities that have affected every single aspect of life,” said UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk.

“Over the past months, my Office has consulted with Myanmar people across all ethnic communities, sectors and demographics, particularly listening to the voices of young people, on their vision for the future,” the High Commissioner said. “They have been united in one message: they don’t want to be ruled by guns, but, rather, yearn for a peaceful, inclusive and democratic society.”

Due to be presented to the Human Rights Council on 1 July 2025, the report underscores the importance of tackling the root causes of the crisis, including unchecked political and economic power concentrated in the military’s hands, generalised impunity, instrumentalization of laws and institutions to serve military interests, and an overall system of governance based on structural racial discrimination, exclusion anddivision.

It identifies four key areas to the path forward: accountability, good governance, sustainable development and the actions of international and regional stakeholders.

The report also identifies the “constituents for change” -- namely women, youth, civil society organisations and grassroots networks, pro-democracy actors and the media. The voices in the report call for dismantling military-controlled institutions and economic structures, pointing in particular to the military’s domination and exploitation of the economy and natural resources for their own enrichment.

Former political prisoners emphasized the role of an instrumentalized judiciary as complicit in human rights violations, with judges viewed as systematically failing to exercise independent authority, convicting individuals on scant evidence of guilt, and sending thousands to jail. Lawyers highlighted that the judicial system has become entirely subordinated to the military, and will need a complete overhaul to regain people’s trust.

There is also a growing recognition of past human rights violations and abuses, including against minority and other marginalized communities like the Rohingya. Perpetrators from all sides must be brought to justice, according to international standards. The report emphasises the importance of criminal accountability, whether through domestic, international, or hybrid legal systems, as part of a wider set of transitional justice measures. Freeing all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, was consistently indicated as a also being necessary, the report added.

Noting achievements made by communities in establishing local institutions and forms of governance, the report highlighted that many areas of the country have begun to build bottom-up democratic structures, often with increased participation of women.

It also documented that people who have fled their homes indicated nearly unanimously their intention to return home, whenever safe, and to contribute to the establishment of a just and democratic society. A key practical way to support these individuals in the meantime is the provision of formal longer-term legal status in countries where they have sought refuge and protection, with the possibility to access healthcare, education, and employment. This particularly applies to the Rohingya for whom the pre-conditions of safety, citizenship and rights necessary for any sustainable return still do not exist.

Due to deepening food insecurity in Rakhine and drastic cuts to humanitarian aid in Bangladesh, it is imperative that support is maintained and increased, the report states. The ASEAN group of States and other stakeholders should explore options for cross-border assistance to alleviate the suffering of the Rohingya.

The Myanmar people, it adds, call for a more effective and decisive approach by the wider international community, including through appropriate targeted sanctions, as well as political engagement with democratic forces and emerging governance structures.

“This report underscores the importance of planning for the day-after, where human rights are the front and centre of the new Myanmar,” Türk said. “There are strong, resourceful and principled individuals and groups rallying and creating the conditions for an inclusive and democratic future. They are a shining example of hope for a peaceful future.”

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