Myanmar: Investigate Use of Excessive Force Against Letpadan Protesters

(Yangon, April 14, 2016)—While welcoming the Government of Myanmar’s recent release of political prisoners, Fortify Rights and the Harvard Law School International Human Rights Clinic urged authorities today to open a formal investigation into the violent police crackdown against protesters in March 2015 in Letpadan […]

Release of Political Prisoners in Myanmar Hailed by UN expert

GENEVA (12 April 2016) – The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, welcomes the recent release of political prisoners as a truly significant moment for Myanmar […]

AAPP Welcomes State Counsellors Statement on the Release of Political Prisoners

AAPP welcomes the statement from the State Counsellors office on April 7 2016 concerning the intended release of political prisoners in Burma […]

Appeal to the Myanmar Peoples (Charter 77-inspired Call for Grassroots Democracy)

We the endorsers of this declaration are Myanmar individuals who want to see liberty, justice and human rights prevail in our multi-ethnic multi-faith Union of Myanmar. Today our country has begun to move along the path of democratization, peace and harmony […]

Statement No.(3/2016) Statement on the visit to the prison, court lock-up, police lock-up and the guard ward in Loi-Kaw Township, Kayah State Statement

1. A team from the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission comprising of Members U Zaw Win and Daw Mya Mya accompanied by two staff members visited the prison, court lock-up, police lock-up and the guard ward in Loi-Kaw Township, Kayah State from 9 to 11 March 2016. The team interviewed 20 male inmates, 9 female inmates, 5 male detainees and 2 female detainees […]

Over 650 Myanmar/Burma Civil Society Actors Speak Out on the Reality of the Transition

The forum titled, “Civil Societies’ Review on Myanmar/Burma’s Transition Process: Prospects for 2015 and Beyond”, held on 15 – 17 October 2014 at the Myanmar Christian Fellowship of the Blind Center in Rangoon, brought together over 650 representatives from 257 organizations and networks from across the country and border areas to discuss and strategize a wide range of key issues currently facing Burma in the context of the recent economic and political reforms since 2011. This is the first forum of this scale to assess the reform and the wide range of problems currently facing Burma.

Despite the hailed “transition to democracy,” exalted particularly by the international community, civil society organizations (CSOs) spoke of the decades old challenges that remain unresolved, the stagnation of the reform process, and new emerging issues, in addition to the need for meaningful inclusion of the voices of civil society, democratic opposition forces, ethnic peoples, women and youth in the reform process.

The forum addressed six core issues; (1) law reform, (2) peace and conflict, (3) media, hate speech and communal violence, (4) Parliament, Government and accountability, (5) economic reform and foreign direct investment, and (6) the international community’s role and involvement, which were discussed under six panel discussions and six workshops. The forum produced a statement that gave concrete recommendations from civil society groups to the Burma Government, United Nations, international governments and international non-governmental organizations (lNGOs) […]

Statement of Women’s Groups and CSOs on Preparation of Draft Interfaith Marriage Law

We believe that current faith–based political activities, including the arguments against interfaith marriage currently taking place in the country, are not in accordance with the objectives of the peaceful coexistence of all faiths and the prevention of extreme violence and conflict, but are instead events and ideas designed to distract the public before the 2015 election […]

British Government Backs Burma Political Prisoner Review Mechanism

Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire MP has backed ‘a comprehensive and transparent mechanism’ to review cases of political prisoners in Burma. He voiced his support in a letter responding to letters from the public about political prisoners in Burma […]

Communiqué by Heads of Missions of the European Union

1. The embassies of France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the EU Delegation have just concluded a four-day mission to Northern Rakhine State. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Government of Myanmar for the excellent cooperation and hospitality extended to us during this mission, and notably to the Union Minister for Border Affairs, Lieutenant General Thet Naing Win, the Chief Minister of Rakhine State, U Hla Maung Tin, and the Deputy Minister of Immigration and Population, U Kyaw Kyaw Win, and their teams […]

Public Consultation Meeting on Article 18 of Freedom of Assembly and Freedom of Procession Law

A public consultation meeting on Article 18 of Freedom of Assembly and Freedom of Procession Law was held on 6 November 2013 at the office of 88 Generation Peace and Open Society in Thingangyun Township, Yangon. The forum was attended by various types of civil society organizations including Human Rights and political activist […]