The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a new report on Myanmar, highlighting a worsening crisis marked by severe human rights violations. Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, at least 5,350 civilians have been killed, over 3.3 million people have been displaced, and more than half of the population lives below the poverty line due to ongoing violence by the armed forces.
The report reveals that nearly 27,400 people have been arrested, with numbers escalating since the introduction of mandatory conscription in February. The violence has not only caused physical harm but also severely impacted mental health and economic conditions, leading to a deepening economic decline, according to OHCHR spokesperson Liz Throssell.
The crisis has driven many young people to flee the country to avoid forced military service. The report also notes that at least 1,853 people have died in custody, including 88 children and 125 women, often due to abusive interrogation methods, ill-treatment, and lack of adequate medical care.
James Rodehaver, head of the UN human rights team for Myanmar, described the methods of torture used by the military as “some of the most depraved behavior” including the use of snakes, insects, beatings, electrocution, and burning.
The OHCHR has called for accountability for those responsible for these violations. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has urged the Security Council to refer the situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and demands an end to the violence and the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained individuals.
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