Amnesty International Oral Statement on Myanmar to the 28th session of the Human Rights Council

Amnesty International has submitted two written statements on Myanmar to this Council’s session , one of which focuses on extractive industries […]

Statement of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar

Today is the final day of my second official visit to Myanmar as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. It has been a visit rich in its diversity, geography, viewpoints and experiences. I have engaged with government officials, parliamentarians, religious and community leaders, civil society representatives, victims of human rights violations and members of the international community. My discussions have been frank, open, sometimes passionate but always welcoming. I am feeling more and more a part of this country and am privileged to be accompanying the people of Myanmar on this journey of reform towards greater enjoyment of human rights. My visit would not have been possible without the genuine cooperation of the Government of Myanmar and the committed support of the United Nations Country Team. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to both organisations […]

Joint Statement of Karen Women’s Groups in Support of the Reunification of the Kawthoolei Armed Forces (KAF)

The Karen Women’s Organization (KWO), Karen Women’s Empowerment Group (KWEG) and Karen Women’s Union (KWU) welcome the announcement, on October 13th, 2014, of the Karen armed resistance groups coming together under the name of “Kawthoolei Armed Forces (KAF)”. The alliance of 4 Karen armed forces meets the long held desire of Karen people everywhere, especially of Karen women. We believe this is an opportunity for both peace building, and improved co-operation which can help reduce violence against women […]

Free All Human Rights Defenders and Stop Ongoing Arbitrary Arrests

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, an FIDH-OMCT joint programme, welcomes the latest release of human rights defenders who were among the political prisoners detained in Burma/Myanmar, and now urges the Government to immediately and unconditionally release all those who remain detained and to stop ongoing arbitrary arrests and imprisonment […]

Myanmar: Release of Prisoners of Conscience Positive But Many Still Locked Up

The release of several prisoners of conscience in Myanmar today is a positive step, but time is running out for the government to keep its promise to release everyone imprisoned for peaceful activism by the year’s end, Amnesty International said […]

Dispatches: The Political Prisoner Endgame in Burma?

The release of 69 political prisoners in Burma today is cause for optimism that the drawn-out persecution of peaceful activists, which reached its apex just a few years ago when up to 2,000 peoplewere locked up, is drawing to a close. Today’s amnesty includes the prominent rights activist Naw Ohn Hla […]

Political Prisoners Continue to Be Used as a PR Tool by Thein Sein

Today Burma Campaign UK welcomed the news that 69 political prisoners have been released but expressed concerns that, once again, the release of political prisoners is cynically timed with the visits of high profile international delegations.

Activists Aung Soe and Naw Ohn Hla were among the released prisoners, and their cases were highlighted in our No Political Prisoner Left Behind campaign in March and August 2013 […]

Update: Imprisoned Human Rights Defender, Naw Ohn Hla, Faces Additional Charges Related to Campaigns for Land Rights

Human rights defender, Ms Naw Ohn Hla, is facing thirty-three additional charges in relation to her work protecting land rights in Burma. In August 2013, she was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for disturbing public tranquillity. Naw Ohn Hla is being held in Mandalay prison […]

A Prominent Woman Activist Jailed For Leading A Peaceful Protest

Burma Campaign UK today urged Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire MP to call in the Burmese ambassador to Britain to question him regarding why people are still being arrested under the right to protest law in Burma. Burma Campaign UK also urged the Foreign Office Minister to demand the military-backed government to secure the immediate release of Naw Ohn Hla and to repeal all the repressive laws which put political prisoners in jail […]

Burma: Human Rights Defender Ms Naw Ohn Hla Sentenced to Two Years in Prison with Hard Labour

On 29 August 2013, human rights defender Ms Naw Ohn Hla was found guilty of disturbing public tranquillity under Section 505(b) of the Burmese Penal Code and sentenced to two years in prison with hard labour. She had been arrested on 13 August 2013 during a peaceful protest. Naw Ohn Hla has been an active human rights defender for decades and has been instrumental in calling for the suspension of the Letpadaung mining project as it is harming the environment […]