Rights body shake-up under fire

A former member of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission has questioned the legality of a recent commission reformation amid concerns that some of its more outspoken members have been jettisoned. Rights groups, meanwhile, described the changes as disappointing but said they were indicative of the broader failings of the commission, including a lack of […]

Myanmar Revamps Human Rights Panel Amid Criticism from Rights Groups

Myanmar President Thein Sein reshuffled the National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) on Thursday just as civil society groups issued a scathing report criticizing the authorities for not addressing its weaknesses under a new law that institutionalizes the body. Under a presidential order, Thein Sein revamped the previous 15-member commission, removing nine officials and adding five […]

New Report Exposes the Continued Ineffectiveness of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission

Today, the 2014 report on the performance of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), All the President’s Men, was released at the Myanmar Journalists Network in Rangoon. Co-authored by Burma Partnership and Equality Myanmar, the report, which contributed to the annual report […]

Statement No. (2/2014) Investigation of the Incident at the Ducheeratan Village

1. A team from the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) comprising the Secretary and three members visited Sittwe and Maung Taw Township and made a tour of the Ducheeratan village tract from 30 January to 3 February 2014, in order to investigate the news reports on the incident that had occurred at Ducheeratan middle village […]

Myanmar National Human Rights Council Urged to Free Aung Soe

Burma Campaign UK today urged U Win Mra, the Chairman of the Myanmar National Human Rights Council to call for the establishment of a permanent review mechanism for political prisoners, and the immediate release of Aung Soe and all remaining political prisoners in Burma […]

Statement No. (1/2014) On the Presidential Order of Pardon

1. The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission whole-heartedly welcomes the issuance of Presidential Pardon under order No. 51/2013 dated 30 December 2013 of the President Office […]

Statement No. (4/2013) On the International Human Rights Day

1. On the International Human Rights Day, the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) joins the international community in celebrating this auspicious day […]

Commission Meets with Residents of Strife-Torn Rakhine

Representatives of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission have met with community leaders and other residents of riot-torn Rakhine State.

Radio Free Asia reported that the Commission members urged the importance of containing communal violence in a bid to uphold human rights, following the deadly clashes that occurred last year […]

Rights Commission Says Use of Torture in Prison Riot Breached Human Rights

The use of torture during last month’s prison riot in southern Myanmar was a violation of human rights, according to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The NHRC statement comes after commission officials last month made an inspection tour of Kawthaung Prison in Taninthayi Region, where the riot occurred on September 13. One prisoner was killed and seven others were injured during the incident […]

2013 ANNI Report on the Performance and Establishment of National Human Rights Institutions in Asia

National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) have become increasingly prominent actors in the national, regional and international human rights arenas. When able to operate independently and effectively, they are important mechanisms that constitute an effective complement to the judiciary and other institutions in the national infrastructure tasked with the promotion and protection of human rights.

2012 (and significant events in the first half of 2013) represented a litmus test for many NHRIs in the region. There were significant events for Asian states: such as budding attempts towards democratic transition; and states that faced internal conflict or communal violence, among others. Often, this involved the complicity of state actors, which renders the fight against impunity a formidable challenge.

This report includes a chapter entitled “Lost in Transition” that looks at the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission […]