In a Premature Nod to Burma, ASEAN Misses a Chance to Drive Real Change

Last weekend, the Arab League voted to suspend Syria from its meetings and impose sanctions on the Damascus regime. The vote came after Syria ignored the regional institution’s calls for the release of prisoners, an immediate end to killings and violence and talks with opposition forces.

While the Arab League took such a strong decision, another regional group, ASEAN, has shied away from its responsibility to protect civilians and promote peace, security and justice in one of its member states […]

ASEAN Rewards Burma for Human Rights Abuses

ASEAN has missed an opportunity to push for improvements for human rights in Burma, according to Burma activists in Australia. ASEAN leaders attending a meeting in Indonesia agreed to allow Burma to chair the regional bloc in 2014 […]

ASEAN gambles on Myanmar’s regional leadership

Southeast Asian nations endorsed Myanmar on Thursday for the chairmanship of its regional grouping in 2014, gambling that the isolated country can stick to reforms begun this year that could lead it out of half a century of isolation.

But President Barack Obama cautioned that Myanmar, also known as Burma, must still demonstrate improvements in human rights […]

Myanmar National Human Rights Commission’s Open Letter to President Thein Sein

Myanmar National Human Rights Commission had in an open letter dated 10, October, 2011 submitted an appeal for the release of prisoners by granting amnesty to them. In our submission, Myanmar National Human Rights Commission […]

Summary of the Public Hearing on Human Rights Abuses in Burma

Civilians in conflict areas ofBurmaface gross human rights abuses on a daily basis. The situation since the November 2010 elections has not improved. While there may be some changes in the political situation in Naypyidaw andRangoon, civilians in conflict areas are seeing no evidence of change […]

WLB launches a short film “Bringing Justice to Women” demanding the accountability of Burma’s military for war crimes and crimes against humanity

The Women’s League of Burma (WLB) is today launching a short film highlighting continued systematic and widespread rape against women and girls in Burma, in particular in the areas of renewed military offensives in Kachin, Karen and Shan State after so-called democratic elections […]

Upcoming Public Hearing and Seminar on Human Rights Abuses in Burma

Burma Partnership, in collaboration with SAPA Working Group on ASEAN, Task Force on ASEAN and Burma, KontraS and Solidaritas Indonesia for ASEAN People, are holding two events in Jakarta, Indonesia, this coming Monday: a Public Hearing on Human Rights Abuses and a Seminar on the Human Rights Situation in Burma. These back-to-back events come one year after Burma’s elections in 2010 and less than two weeks before ASEAN is expected to announce a decision on Burma’s bid to chair the regional bloc in 2014. They will also highlight the urgent need for a Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in the country.

Read more about these events here.

UN General Assembly Fails To Act On Crimes Against Humanity In Burma

Burma Campaign UK today condemned the European Union for tabling a draft of this year’s UN General Assembly Resolution on Burma which fails to take any action to stop war crimes and crimes against humanity in the country. This is despite the fact that human rights […]

The Burma Army Must Immediately Release Four Women Held as Sex Slaves Near Kachin-China Border

The Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT) is gravely concerned for the lives of four women being held as sex slaves at a frontline post near Loije at the Kachin-China border, and calls for the Burma Army to immediately free them, and for foreign envoys […]

Japan Should Investigate Abuses at Burma Hydropower Project before Considering New Support

Burma Rivers Network (BRN) together with the Karenni Development Research Group (KDRG), representing dam-affected communities in Burma, urges the Japanese Government to investigate abuses linked to Lawpita (Baluchaung) No. 2 hydropower plant […]