The Situation of Transitional Justice in Myanmar (2017–2025)
16 January 2026
Introduction
With regard to transitional justice, official initiatives undertaken by the government in Myanmar, With regard to transitional justice, official initiatives undertaken by the government in Myanmar, as well as activities carried out by civil society organizations, were compiled up to January as well as activities carried out by civil society organizations, were compiled up to January 2017. Following the military’s unlawful seizure of state power in 2021, widespread human rights 2017. Following the military’s unlawful seizure of state power in 2021, widespread human rights violations committed by the military junta have caused Myanmar’s human rights situation to violations committed by the military junta have caused Myanmar’s human rights situation to deteriorate severely. deteriorate severely.
Before the 2021 military coup, even during the tenure of the National League for Democracy Before the 2021 military coup, even during the tenure of the National League for Democracy (NLD), the 2008 Constitution—drafted by the military—ensured the military maintained dominance (NLD), the 2008 Constitution—drafted by the military—ensured the military maintained dominance in parliament, the government, and all key decision-making bodies of the state. As a consequence, in parliament, the government, and all key decision-making bodies of the state. As a consequence, throughout more than 70 years of internal armed conflict in Myanmar, the military has remained throughout more than 70 years of internal armed conflict in Myanmar, the military has remained immune from accountability for the crimes it committed. Efforts to reform the Constitution and immune from accountability for the crimes it committed. Efforts to reform the Constitution and state institutions were likewise obstructed by the 2008 Constitution itself. Mechanisms to ensure state institutions were likewise obstructed by the 2008 Constitution itself. Mechanisms to ensure justice for victims and to hold perpetrators accountable were therefore undermined and rendered justice for victims and to hold perpetrators accountable were therefore undermined and rendered ineffective. This situation deteriorated to its worst point, particularly after the 2021 military coup. ineffective. This situation deteriorated to its worst point, particularly after the 2021 military coup.
Therefore, from 2017 through the end of 2025, the processes within the framework of Transitional Therefore, from 2017 through the end of 2025, the processes within the framework of Transitional Justice (TJ) in Myanmar—including Truth, Justice, Reparations, and Guarantees of Non- Justice (TJ) in Myanmar—including Truth, Justice, Reparations, and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence—have been examined and compiled in chronological order by the Network for Human Recurrence—have been examined and compiled in chronological order by the Network for Human Rights Documentation–Burma (ND-Burma), to the greatest extent possible.
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19 May 2026
