In a stark address to the Human Rights Council, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk outlined Myanmar’s dire human rights situation, labelling it a “litany of human suffering”. Amidst unrelenting conflict and economic collapse, civilians are enduring unimaginable pain, with over 1,800 reported deaths from violence in the last year alone, the worst toll since the military coup in 2021. This routine violence, including indiscriminate attacks on schools and healthcare facilities, has created a humanitarian catastrophe where 15 million face hunger, and almost 3.5 million have been displaced.
Mr. Türk decried the junta’s ruthless measures, which include severe physical assaults like beheadings, and the use of forced recruitment laws that leave many young men and women fleeing to avoid military conscription. Vulnerable populations, like the Rohingya, continue to suffer disproportionately amidst escalating tensions in Rakhine state, where thousands have died and many have risked perilous sea voyages to escape, with hundreds perishing in the process.
Adding to the turmoil, Myanmar is facing rampant corruption and a surge in organized crime, becoming a notorious hub for drug production and human trafficking. As economic despair deepens, Mr. Türk highlighted the necessity for the international community to take stronger action, advocating for an arms embargo and sanctions targeting essential military resources. He made a pointed call for accountability regarding war crimes, urging support for international justice mechanisms.
In a parallel session, the Human Rights Council addressed the plight of South Sudan, with leaders failing their citizens amidst persistent violence and suffering. The latest report detailed profound violations, such as forced recruitment and extrajudicial killings, with political elites perpetuating a cycle of abuse and neglect. The committee chair, Yasmin Sooka, emphasised the absurdity of ongoing violence, saying, “It is unconscionable that so many years after its independence, political leaders continue their violent contestations across the country.”
The tragic consequences of misguided leadership became evident in the Tambura region, ravaged by ethnic violence, while corruption and systemic mismanagement hinder any hopes for stability. Funds intended for public services remain underutilised, leaving critical infrastructure to languish. Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernández stated, “Financing essential services and rule of law institutions requires an end to the corruption,” firmly laying bare the need for fundamental change to achieve lasting peace.
UN rights chief Volker Türk has condemned the horrific human rights abuses in Myanmar, where civilians suffer under a military regime amidst economic collapse and widespread violence. Over 1,800 deaths were recorded in 2024 alone, as more than 3.5 million people face displacement. In South Sudan, political leaders are failing their citizens, with rampant violence and corruption illustrated in the latest Human Rights Commission report, highlighting an urgent need for systemic change.
The reports from the Human Rights Council vividly depict the dire conditions faced by civilians in Myanmar and South Sudan. In Myanmar, ongoing violence, economic collapse, and corruption lead to extensive human suffering, with urgent calls for international intervention and accountability mechanisms. Simultaneously, South Sudan’s leaders remain entrenched in violence and neglect, undermining the progress hoped for since independence. Both nations stand as stark reminders of the challenges faced in advocating for human rights in conflict zones.
Original Source: news.un.org
