HRC61 – Oral Statement on the situation in Myanmar

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 61st Session

Statement by Legal Action Worldwide (LAW)

Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar

13 March 2026

Madam Vice-President, Excellencies,

Nearly five years after the military coup, Myanmar remains in a state of escalating armed conflict and deepening humanitarian crisis.

Legal Action Worldwide published a new report, revealing a dramatic escalation of conflict-related sexual violence. We found three main patterns.

First, sexual violence is now widespread in regions where such patterns had not previously been recorded, like in Sagaing and Magway.

Second, sexual violence occurs in interrogation centres, and is used systematically to break detainees, humiliate them, and force confessions.

And third, the report also documents instances of conflict-related sexual violence committed by non-state armed groups, including elements of the People’s Defence Forces, Ethnic Revolutionary Organisations, and the Arakan Army.

Based on these findings, we found reasonable grounds to conclude that Myanmar’s security forces have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, including rape, sexual violence, torture, persecution, and murder.

Legal Action Worldwide is just back from the International Court of Justice, where we saw the power of Rohingya genocide victims’ testimonies. This should encourage States to use all means to ensure justice victims, including structural investigations under universal jurisdiction, sanctions against perpetrators, and international accountability.

Madam Vice-President, Excellencies,

What will the Council do to bolster accountability efforts and ensure that the Myanmar military is punished for past and ongoing international crimes?

We thank you.