Burma/Myanmar has a legacy of human rights violations linked to foreign investment and land acquisition for business activities, including large-scale development projects. A flawed and outdated legal framework, poor policy coherence, weak governance, rule of law deficiencies, and an exploitative and predatory approach to controlling natural resources have fuelled human rights violations and armed conflict. Despite a new government, ongoing military control and/or influence over key ministries remains a barrier to land reform. The legal framework for land acquisition violates international standards. Institutionalized impunity and discrimination, a lack of transparency, and corrupt and unregulated industries present a significant risk to local residents, as well as local and foreign investors. As foreign direct investment increases in Burma, it is crucial that the new National League for Democracy (NLD)-led government tackles land acquisition as a priority policy issue. The current legal and policy framework must be significantly reformed to ensure transparent investment practices and that human rights are respected by businesses operating in the country. Such measures should be conflict-sensitive, clearly address the impact of past abuses and provide concrete means to protect human rights. This short factsheet summarizes business and human rights concerns in Burma/Myanmar, and highlights the need for reforms before appropriate human rights due diligence can be conducted.

This short factsheet summarizes human rights developments in Burma/Myanmar since the November 2015 elections, ahead of the 31st session of the UN Human Rights Council. It highlights the need for intensified pressure to ensure that the incoming National League for Democracy (NLD) government prioritizes reforms that will bring institutional behavior, policies and legislation into line with international human rights standards. Concerns include ongoing discrimination against the Rohingya population and the influence of extremist nationalist group Ma Ba Tha; the continued detention of political prisoners and the challenge facing an NLD government in ending this; civilian abuse in conflict including torture and rape by the Tatmadaw, which remains unaddressed in the exlusive peace process; and immunity secured for outgoing President Thein Sein as the transition continues.

Results announced on 13 November confirmed the overwhelming victory of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in the 8 November elections, which decided 75% of seats in Burma/Myanmar’s National and Regional Parliaments. While the military will retain its allotted 25% of parliamentary seats, the NLD now holds an overall majority in the National Parliament, giving it the power to form Burma/Myanmar’s next government and select a President.
This briefer summarizes post-election issues, including; the presidential selection process; the military power preserved in the 2008 Constitution; Aung San Suu Kyi's call for "reconciliation talks" with President Thein Sein, Commander-in-Chief Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing and Parliamentary Speaker Shwe Mann; and the final parliamentary session for sitting MPs. 

On 8 November, Burma/Myanmar held what has been called its ‘free-est and fairest’ election in 25 years. An 80% turnout rate was reported for the 33.5 million Burmese eligible to vote in the election, which saw the first participation of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) in a general election since the (later annulled) 1990 elections.
After a half century of rule by authoritarian regimes, and 2010’s sham election which saw the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) win through widespread fraud, the landmark vote was heralded as the most credible in a generation, but was far from being ‘free and fair.’ The results will determine the composition of 75% of Burma’s National and Regional Parliaments, while 25% of seats remain reserved for the military.

The situation for Rohingya, often described as one of the world's most persecuted peoples, has severely deteriorated during President Thein Sein’s presidency, with a spike in hate crimes and the introduction of additional discriminatory draft laws and policies. Pre-existing discriminatory policies against Rohingya, including restrictions on marriage and birthrates, remain in full force. Stricter enforcement of the 1982 Citizenship Law ensures most Rohingya remain stateless. Read more...

Since the 2014 UNHRC resolution, Burma’s transition has slid backwards, as the regime failed to implement many of the resolution’s recommendations. Among the critical issues the regime has failed to tackle are the ongoing Tatmadaw attacks in Kachin and Shan States and their dire impact on civilians, the repeated sentencing of human rights defenders, increasing media repression, and discrimination against Rohingya. This briefer provides updates on key elements raised in UNHRC Resolution L.21 (adopted on 28 March 2014), focusing on the period from September 2014 to February 2015. Read more...

A veneer of reform disguises the threats posed to freedom of assembly and association in Burma. Publicly expressed dissent has often been met with disproportionate force, particularly in relation to large-scale development projects or natural resource extraction. The regime also continues to ignore calls from CSOs to address human rights abuses, including land confiscation, associated with these projects.
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The Burmese authorities have failed to implement most of the recommendations from previous United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions, in particular Resolution 68/242, adopted in 2013. This briefer summarizes developments on the ground with direct reference to key paragraphs of the resolution. Read more...

In December of 2004, an undersea earthquake near Indonesia triggered a tsunami that caused widespread destruction in Indonesia, Thailand, India and, most likely, Burma. Because of Burma’s secretive military regime, it has been had to assess the full extent of the tsunami’s damage to Burma. Read more....

In December of 2004, an undersea earthquake near Indonesia triggered a tsunami that caused widespread destruction in Indonesia, Thailand, India and, most likely, Burma. Because of Burma’s secretive military regime, it has been had to assess the full extent of the tsunami’s damage to Burma. Read more...