58th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Item 2: Interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s Oral Update on Myanmar
Joint Oral Statement
28 February 2025
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, the Law Council of Australia, Lawyers for Lawyers, and Lawyers Rights Watch Canada continue to condemn the ongoing atrocity crimes being committed in Myanmar.
Over four years since the coup, reports of the lack of the rule of law and of the junta targeting pro-democracy activists and human rights defenders, including lawyers and journalists, continue. Lawyers not only face severe restrictions in their work, including limited access to their clients and bans on confidential communications, but have themselves been harassed, intimidated, and arbitrarily arrested and detained, particularly when defending political cases.
Arbitrary arrests and detention and unfair trials of perceived opponents of the military regime also continue. There is evidence of systematic torture and ill-treatment of individuals in detention, often to force a confession. Judges have reportedly summarily dismissed or not even considered lawyers’ or the accused’s attempts to object to the reliance on such forced confessions in judicial proceedings.
We continue to urge: 1) the High Commissioner and this Council to respond robustly to the deepening crisis in Myanmar; and 2) the international community to use and support all possible avenues to ensure accountability for all international crimes that are being committed.
Thank you.
This statement was delivered by:
Cath Kent, Programme Lawyer
International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute
HRC58_Oral Statement_HC Oral Update on Myanmar_Final_EXTERNAL
