UN office spokeswoman Liz Throssell and Myanmar’s human rights chief James Rodehaver told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday that the report highlighted a worsening human rights situation in the country, a deepening crisis and a lack of rule of law.
Since the military coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, 5,350 civilians have lost their lives and more than 3.3 million have been displaced. About 50 percent of the country’s population lives below the poverty line.
According to the UN Human Rights Office, the violence, destruction and deprivation that has continued in Myanmar over the past few years has had a serious impact on the mental health of ordinary citizens. Economic and social rights have weakened, due to which the economic condition of the country is rapidly deteriorating.
At the same time, the country’s youth are migrating to other countries to avoid joining the military or engaging in violence.
Reports indicate that the military has detained more than 27,000 people since the coup. Arrests are also on the rise after conscription in the armed forces is made compulsory in February 2024.
According to reliable sources, at least 1,853 people died in custody, including 88 children and 125 women.
Abuse, torture cases
In most of these cases, it has been confirmed that these people died due to ill-treatment in custody, intensive interrogation and ill-treatment or inadequate healthcare.
There have been widespread cases of torture and ill-treatment of detainees in custody and the UN Human Rights Office has collected data on these abuses.
Such as being hung from the ceiling without food and water, forced to bend or crawl on hard floors, using snakes and insects to intimidate, iron rods, rifle butts, leather belts, electric shocks etc. Shocking, suffocation, burning with cigarettes, hot water, amputation of body parts, use of irritants on open wounds and other cases.
Also, there have been reports of sexual violence.
Emphasis on accountability
The UN office stressed that perpetrators of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law must be held accountable. Failure to punish the guilty in such cases will increase the likelihood of reoccurrence of these violations, abuses and crimes.
According to the report, ensuring respect for the rule of law and maintaining the proper functioning of judicial institutions in Myanmar is a huge challenge.
Against the backdrop of these findings, UN High Commissioner Volker Turk reiterated that the Security Council must fully escalate Myanmar’s current situation to the International Criminal Court.
He appealed for an immediate end to violence and the unconditional release of arbitrarily detained prisoners.
Volker Turk said Myanmar’s civil society and community-based organizations are providing important services to ordinary citizens, which are essential for the future of local people. All possible assistance should be given to them.