[Media Advisory] Public Hearing on the Human Rights Crisis in Myanmar

On 27 May 2024, the Provedor for Human Rights and Justice (PHDJ) of Timor-Leste, together with Centro Nacional Chega!I.P (CNC), Progressive Voice, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma), and Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID) will hold the Public Hearing on the Human Rights Crisis in Myanmar.

The Public Hearing aims to raise awareness of the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. Six human rights defenders from Myanmar will testify on the human rights violations in their country, including the situations of Rohingya communities, women, youth, and political prisoners as well as the lived realities across Chin, Kachin, Karenni, and Rakhine States. Following the testimonies, the PDHJ will offer formal remarks.

The Public Hearing will also seek to provide tangible recommendations on how ASEAN can strengthen its approach to addressing the crisis in Myanmar while also supporting the demands of Myanmar’s peoples.

The hearing will be conducted in English. Live interpretation in Myanmar language will be available.

Background

Ever since the Myanmar military’s attempted coup on 1 February 2021, the people of Myanmar have consistently and categorically rejected the illegitimate junta and its actions. The people of Myanmar have been resolutely defending democracy and their fundamental rights and freedoms.

Over the past three years, the military junta has perpetrated a multitude of grave human rights violations and mass atrocity crimes across the nation, including massacres, torching and pillaging of entire towns, and lethal airstrikes against civilian communities and places where they take refuge. The junta’s violence has displaced more than 2.5 million people—a number that has been rising steadily.

In February 2024, the junta started to forcibly conscript youth across the country to perpetuate its commission of its atrocity crimes, further jeopardizing civilian safety and human security of Myanmar’s people.

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