UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2023
Two years after Myanmar’s military launched an unconstitutional coup d’état and formed the State Administration Council, the country is in freefall. As opposition groups gain strength and the SAC’s control over territory and the people of Myanmar erodes, the military has doubled down on its brutal tactics, sowing violence and chaos across an ever-widening sphere of conflict.
The international community’s treatment of those fleeing Myanmar has been wholly inadequate. The Special Rapporteur calls on Member States to fulfil their obligations toward people from Myanmar by offering shelter and support, refraining from acts that endanger their human rights, and working towards durable solutions for refugees and other Myanmar nationals outside their country.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2022
In the report, the Special Rapporteur highlights some of the most serious human rights violations in Myanmar during the period September 2021 through February 2022, describes the efforts of the people of Myanmar to oppose the military junta and defend their nation, and concludes with specific recommendations that he urges the Security Council and Member States to take.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2021
In the report, the Special Rapporteur reflects on the human rights situation before and after the military coup and makes recommendations to protect and promote human rights in Myanmar.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2020
The report reflects on the Special Rapporteur’s tenure, identifies developments in human rights issues, and makes recommendations for the furtherance of human rights in Myanmar.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2019
In the report, the Special Rapporteur builds on her previous reports to identify progress and challenges in human rights issues, and makes recommendations for the furtherance of the human rights of all people in Myanmar.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2018
In December 2017 the Government of Myanmar informed the Special Rapporteur that all access to the country had been denied and cooperation withdrawn for the remaining duration of her tenure. She reports on visits to Bangladesh and Thailand in January 2018 and calls for a thorough, impartial and credible investigation into the alleged crimes and continuing violations in Rakhine State.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2017
The Special Rapporteur, Yanghee Lee, reports on her visit of January 2017, acknowledges the progress made and addresses the formidable human rights challenges faced by the new Government. Her 50 recommendations include the call for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate what may amount to crimes against humanity in Rakhine State, and access for humanitarian actors to northern Rakhine.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2016
The Special Rapporteur, Yanghee Lee, identifies the formidable human rights challenges that remain and key priority areas that should be tackled by the new administration following the historic general elections of November 2015.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2015
The new Special Rapporteur, Yanghee Lee, reports on her second mission to Myanmar in January 2015 and makes recommendations on the far reaching changes amid increasing concerns over discrimination and ethnic conflict.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2014
The Special Rapporteur, Tomas Ojea Quintana, looks at the current situation of human rights in Myanmar and reflects on the extent of the progress made during the course of his six years as the mandate holder. He highlights the release of prisoners of conscience as one of the most significant achievements of the Government of Myanmar, but about 33 prisoners of conscience remain in detention, and people are still being arrested and imprisoned for their peaceful political activities.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2013
This report looks at the impact of ongoing reforms on the human rights situation in Myanmar, assessing positive developments, shortcomings, areas that remain unaddressed and gaps in implementation. In one of his most in-depth reports, an unprecedented 63 recommendations are made for action needed to improve human rights.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2012
The recent wave of reforms has had a positive impact on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. The upcoming by-elections on 1 April 2012 will be a key test of how far the Government has progressed in its reform process. There is, however, a risk of backtracking on the progress achieved to date. At this crucial moment in the country’s history, remaining human rights concerns and challenges should be addressed, and justice and accountability measures, as well as measures to ensure access to the truth, should be taken.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2011
Myanmar undertook national elections for the first time in over two decades on 7 November 2010. One week later, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was released unconditionally upon the end of her house arrest term. Amidst much uncertainty, there appears to be some cautious optimism that positive change may be possible. For this reason, the Special Rapporteur begins to address in the present report the subject of economic, social and cultural rights, starting with the right to education.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2010
The Government of Myanmar has not yet met an important step (release of Aung San Suu Kyi and more than 2,100 prisoners of conscience) in its preparations for transition to democracy in the lead-up to the 2010 election. There is a pattern of gross and systematic violation of human rights which has been in place for many years and still continues. Given the extent and persistence of the problem, and the lack of accountability, there is an indication that those human rights violations are the result of a State policy, originating from decisions by authorities in the executive, military and judiciary at all levels.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2009
The Special Rapporteur reiterates his recommendation of four core human rights elements: a review of national legislation in accordance with the new Constitution and international obligations; the progressive release of prisoners of conscience; training for the armed forces to ensure respect for international human rights and humanitarian law; and the establishment of an independent and impartial judiciary.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2008 June
Tomás Ojea Quintana (Argentina) was appointed as the new Special Rapporteur, and he officially assumed the function on 1 May 2008. In the report, the Special Rapporteur focuses on the human rights issues pertinent to the current constitutional process in the country, the developments with regard to the crackdown on the demonstrations in September 2007, and the human rights impact of tropical cyclone Nargis.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2008 March update
The present report is based on information gathered since the Special Rapporteur’s report on the human rights implications of the crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations in Myanmar in September 2007, its causes and consequences. The report covers the period from December 2007 to March 2008.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2008 March
The present report covers the period from February 2007 to February 2008.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2007 December
This Report contains findings gathered by the Special Rapporteur prior to and during his official mission in November 2007, and includes a chronology and facts of the military response to the peaceful protests of September 2007. The Special Rapporteur found that the Government had knowledge that severe human rights abuses would be likely to take place and failed to prevent these abuses. He noted that the excessive use of force, including lethal force was unnecessary and disproportionate. He also found that a ruthless campaign of reprisals took place.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2007 February
The third holder of the mandate on Myanmar, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro was appointed in December 2000 and has fulfilled his mandate to the best of his ability for the last six years, despite having been denied access to the country since November 2003. The Special Rapporteur, in the present, final report on the situation of human rights in Myanmar to the Human Rights Council, reiterates the findings contained in his last report to the General Assembly.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2006 March update
The last report of the Secretary-General to the Commission on Human Rights before its replacement by the Human Rights Council.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2006 March
As he nears the end of his mandate, the Special Rapporteur, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, reports on grave human rights violations, the lack of progress towards democratic reform, increased poverty countrywide, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2005
It is a matter of serious concern to the Secretary-General that, since the submission of the last report, his Special Envoy, Razali Ismail, has visited Myanmar only once: in March 2004. Despite repeated requests by the United Nations, he has not been allowed to return to play his facilitation role since then. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Special Rapporteur, has also been denied access to the country since November 2003.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2004 December
The Special Rapporteur believes that in order to bring about a more sustainable solution to the political deadlock in the country, credible endeavours should be made by all actors to ensure that the National League for Democracy (NLD) and other parties join the National Convention process. He stresses yet again that only the full and unconditional release of all political prisoners will pave the way for national reconciliation and the rule of law.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2004 January
This report is based on the findings of his fifth fact-finding mission to Myanmar. The Special Rapporteur believes that the most urgent requirements today are the lifting of all remaining restrictions on the freedoms of expression, movement, information, assembly and association; the repeal of the related “security” legislation; and the opening and reopening of all political parties’ offices throughout the country. There should be no further arrests for peaceful political activities.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2002 December
This Report finds that serious problems with the way the army and armed groups treat civilians in ethnic counter-insurgency areas should be recognized and addressed properly. It is past time for the apparent stalemate that has so far characterized the contacts between the SPDC and the NLD to be overcome. The Special Rapporteur continues to urge the international community to engage with Myanmar even before the SPDC introduces democratic reforms.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2002 January
This report details how the adoption by the Government of Myanmar of military solutions to political problems, while seeking military and financial inputs from outside the country to impose its order on the people, continues to generate a pattern of gross and systematic human rights violations. It finds that political repression and the lack of real engagement in a political dialogue with opposition groups continue to be the main sources of measures adversely affecting democratic governance in Myanmar.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2001
Report on the visits of the Special Envoy in June-July 2000, October 2000 and January 2001.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 2000
This report details how the adoption by the Government of Myanmar of military solutions to political problems, while seeking military and financial inputs from outside the country to impose its order on the people, continues to generate a pattern of gross and systematic human rights violations. It finds that political repression and the lack of real engagement in a political dialogue with opposition groups continue to be the main sources of measures adversely affecting democratic governance in Myanmar.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 1999
In this report the Special Rapporteur concentrates on the rule of the SLORC and the problem of displacement, its causes and consequences. He also deals with detention without charge, criminalizing of freedom of expression and association and the role of and impunity of the Army.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 1998
This report, written after a visit to the Thai border as access to Burma was still refused, makes 18 urgent recommendations, many repeated from the previous year, after detailing extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the failure of due process of law and rights pertaining to democratic governance. It also discusses the problem, main causes and consequences of displacement as well as issues of humanitarian law.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 1997
This report, written after a visit to the Thai border as access to Burma was still refused, makes 18 urgent recommendations , many repeated from the previous year, after detailing extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the failure of due process of law and rights pertaining to democratic governance. It also discusses the problem , main causes and consequences of displacement as well as issues of humanitarian law.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 1996
On the basis of his further findings the Special Rapporteur finds he has to repeat most of the recommendations made in his report to the Commission on Human rights in 1995. Additionally he recommends, amongst others, that the Government should repeal or amend the relevant provisions which prevent the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from carrying out its humanitarian activities with regard to prison visits. He also recommends that the Commission on Human Rights request the High Commissioner for Human Rights to consider placing a team of human rights field officers in such locations as would facilitate improved information flow and assessment and would help in the independent verification of reports on the situation of human rights in Burma.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 1995
The report concludes with 12 recommendations for actions the government of Burma should take. These follow discussion of labour rights, rights of the child, treatment of the Muslim population in Rakhine State, the National Convention and the movement towards reconciliation with insurgents. It also covers extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary execution and arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, freedom of movement and freedom of expression.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 1994
In preparing this report the Special Rapporteur was allowed access to Burma and met with Secretary One of the SLORC , and other government members, some political leaders in detention and representatives of political parties but he was not allowed to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. He also visited Rakhine State, and Insein prison. The report discusses these meetings in detail and then makes 9 recommendations.
UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur – report to UN Human Rights Council, 1993
The Special Rapporteur was appointed by resolution 1992/58 of the Commission on Human Rights. The Special Rapporteur, Dr. Yozo Yokota, visited Myanmar in December 1992. The report covers the major human rights topics and concludes with 12 recommendations.