Realities of a Worsening Human Rights Situation Must be Addressed by the Universal Periodic Review

(Geneva – 8 October 2015) Today 14 civil society organisations from the Burma-Myanmar Universal Periodic Review Forum and its partner civil society organisations from Burma/Myanmar urged the Myanmar Government to uphold its human rights obligations and implement the commitments it made during the first cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in 2011.

The delegates addressed diplomats during UPR Info’s UPR Pre-Session in Geneva and urged them to make informed recommendations during this year’s UPR to reflect the local voices that are critical in driving the country towards a genuine democracy that respects and promotes human rights […]

British Government Abandons British Political Prisoner in Burmese Jail

Burma Campaign UK today accused Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire MP of failing in one of his most fundamental duties, the support and protection of British citizens overseas. Hugo Swire, the Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for Burma, has abandoned Philip Blackwood, a British political prisoner serving hard labour in Burma’s notorious Insein Jail […]

Karen Civil Society Has Lost Trust in the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) Negotiations as a Gateway to Political Dialogue

We, the undersigned civil society organizations and individuals from across Burma and the globe, have steadfastly engaged in the movement for the recognition of our ethnic rights to self-­‐determination, equality, democracy and human rights. We once had high hopes that the peace process and final NCA product co-­‐created by Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAO’s) and the government, even if not perfect, would be a window of opportunity to ink a durable nationwide ceasefire and move forward to the stages of political dialogue. However, in reality, the processes and the actors have failed miserably to […]

Statement on Current Situation and Notification Allowing Political Parties to Resume Election Campaign

1.On 16 September 2015, the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) issued a notification to political parties to suspend their election campaign in some areas under its control because there were armed conflicts going on at the time. Concerning this, the explanation about the current situation is as follows […]

Submission to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review: Myanmar

This report was originally submitted by Fortify Rights to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on March 21, 2015 for consideration in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Myanmar’s human rights performance, which will take place November 9 at the U.N. Human Rights Council […]

Myanmar: End International Crimes, Hold Perpetrators Accountable

(GENEVA)—The government of Myanmar should commit to concrete actions to end and remedy ongoing abuses during its upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations Human Rights Council, Fortify Rights said today. Fortify Rights today published its formal submission to the United Nations on Myanmar’s human rights record, documenting four years of abuses. The […]

EU deploys Election Observation Mission to Myanmar

In response to an invitation by the Union Election Commission (UEC), the European Union has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Myanmar to observe the general elections scheduled for 8 November 2015. This is the first time that the European Union is observing elections in Myanmar. The Mission underscores the EU’s support for Myanmar’s democratic transition and its commitment to supporting credible, transparent and inclusive elections in the country […]

The Burma Army Must Respect a “Free and Fair” Election

A request from the Burma Army to issue army personnel as polling station officers across 15 polling stations within military compounds in Zeyathiri Township has been denied by an election sub-commission in Naypyidaw. The demand from the Burma Army cites security concerns as a primary reason for involvement in the polling stations, though sub-commission officials are well aware that this will raise concerns amongst election observers. According to Burma’s Election Law, polling station officers are to be appointed from positions within the civil service, such as from the education ministry […]

Dispatches: Militias and Electoral Intimidation in Burma

With a little more than a month to go before Burma’s national elections, military aligned militia units are casting a dark shadow over the polls. These proxies, known as Pyithu Sit (People’s Militias) and Neh San Tat (Border Guard Forces) are intimidating voters in Burma’s ethnic-minority borderlands and are stopping candidates from campaigning. This exacerbates the problems in some regions, where ongoing fighting between government forces and ethnic armed groups will prevent voting from taking place […]

UEC U-Turn on Select Few Candidates Fails to Address Election Credibility Gap in Myanmar

JAKARTA, 28 September 2015 – Parliamentarians from across Southeast Asia today welcomed the decision of Myanmar’s Union Election Commission (UEC) to reinstate the candidacies of 11 previously disqualified Muslim politicians, but said the reversal was far from enough to recover international confidence in the upcoming general election […]