UN Human Rights Council 61: UK General Comment on Myanmar

UK General Comment on Myanmar. Delivered by UK Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

Thank you, Mr President.

We welcome draft resolution L.24/Rev.1 and thank the European Union for its leadership and constructive approach.

This text sends a clear and consistent message: the human rights crisis in Myanmar remains one of the most severe and urgent situations on our agenda, and the international community cannot look away.

The resolution rightly documents the full scale of atrocities committed by the Myanmar military since the 2021 coup. It captures the deeply disturbing pattern of violations: indiscriminate airstrikes, the burning of villages, mass displacement, arbitrary detention, torture, systematic sexual- and gender-based violence, and the ongoing persecution of ethnic and religious minorities.

It highlights the military’s recent unilateral elections, which excluded large parts of the country, including many key political actors, and were neither free nor fair. Far from offering a path out of the crisis, violence and instability have continued.

Events this past month underscore the urgency of this resolution. While the military held parades on Armed Forces Day, civilians across Myanmar continued to face horrific violence. Recent military airstrikes in Rakhine, Magway and Sagaing continue to destroy homes, religious sites and shelters for displaced communities. More than 16 million people now require humanitarian assistance, and at least 3.7 million remain displaced, unable to return home. These grave developments illustrate precisely why this Council must act.

We welcome this resolution which further strengthens the pressing need for accountability, the protection of civilians and unrestricted humanitarian access. We strongly support the resolution’s emphasis on the urgent implementation of the ASEAN Five‑Point Consensus and its call for closer cooperation between ASEAN and the UN, including their respective Special Envoys, as essential to advancing a sustainable solution in Myanmar.

Today we reaffirm our unwavering support for the people of Myanmar in their pursuit of a peaceful, democratic and inclusive future. That’s why the UK has co-sponsored this resolution which renews the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, and we urge fellow members of this Council to support.

Thank you.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/un-human-rights-council-61-uk-general-comment-on-myanmar