By Loïc Dorthe / GICJ

Acting High Commissioner Nada Al-Nashif gave an oral update on the human rights situation in Myanmar on Monday, the 26th of September. She recalled the tragic facts about the Myanmar military's misbehaviour, which have already been presented in various ongoing HRC51 reports.

A year and a half after the takeover of the country, there are numerous allegations of international crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the military junta. At least 2,316 people, including 188 children were killed, and about 1 million people were forcefully exiled, with 730,000 of them fleeing to neighbouring Bangladesh. A total of 50,607 people were arbitrarily arrested, 12,464 of whom remain in detention today. 

The death penalty was reintroduced in July 2021 with the execution of 4 people. Among them was a former member of parliament and democracy activist, proving that political opposition has extinguished from Myanmar. A like or emoji on social media posts could be grounds for imprisonment for up to 10 years. Finally, as the costs of and control of communications have increased, access to information and freedom of expression have been significantly reduced in a country where civic space has been decimated.

As current measures have failed to improve the human rights situation in Myanmar, Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) calls on the Myanmar military to stop the violence against its people and minorities, including the Muslim Rohingya. In addition, we urge the international community to take more concrete steps to address the junta's financial resources and call for a total ban on the sale of arms to the military.

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