Human Rights Council Rejects Myanmar Military’s Sham Elections

1 April 2026

Progressive Voice, Chin Human Rights Organization, Burmese Women’s Union, Human Rights Foundation of Monland, FORUM-ASIA

Human Rights Council Rejects Myanmar Military’s Sham Elections

1 April 2026

In a clear and unified rebuke of the Myanmar military, the United Nations Human Rights Council has condemned and rejected its sham elections conducted under conditions that categorically fail to meet international standards as a unilateral attempt to legitimize its attempted coup of February 2021.

Progressive Voice, Chin Human Rights Organization, Burmese Women’s Union, Human Rights Foundation of Monland, and Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) welcome the new resolution adopted by consensus at the end of 61^st regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (the Council). The resolution marks an important milestone in the brave and relentless struggle of Myanmar’s peoples for a federal democracy free from military tyranny. With this resolution, the Council affirms Myanmar people’s rejection of this farce election as yet another desperate attempt by the military to legitimize itself.

The Council expressed grave concern that the military-imposed elections excluded large parts of the country and key political actors, making any genuine participation impossible. It underscored that these elections held without inclusive dialogue or conditions for the full exercise of political rights are neither free nor fair and risked deepening violence and instability. The Council further denounced election-related violence and airstrikes on civilians, as well as repressive legal measures used to silence dissent, resulting in intimidation, arbitrary arrests, political imprisonment, torture, and other serious human rights violations.

In January, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that at least 170 people were killed in over 408 aerial attacks during the military’s sham electoral period. At least 404 people were detained under the so-called election protection laws for criticizing the junta’s elections.

The Council’s rejection of the sham elections follows similar decisions by international actors including the European Union and the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), neither of which sent election observation missions.

The resolution echoed the ASEAN Leaders’ October 2025 decision that emphasized the necessity of the end of the violence and inclusive dialogue ahead of elections in Myanmar. In this regard, the Council underscored the importance of upholding principles of human rights, justice and accountability in the continuing engagement of the ASEAN Special Envoy in facilitating dialogue and initiatives to convene a broad range of Myanmar stakeholders in support of efforts aimed at addressing the crisis.

Condemnation of violence and support for accountability

Through the resolution, the Council once again reiterated its comprehensive condemnation of ongoing atrocities committed by the Myanmar military, including indiscriminate airstrikes, arbitrary detention, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, and attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. It underscores the urgent need to end impunity and calls for full accountability through credible national or international justice mechanisms, including cooperation with existing investigative bodies and international courts.

In this context, the Council reiterated its welcome to the issuance of international arrest warrants against alleged perpetrators of crimes against Rohingya by an Argentinian court in February 2025, and the recent legal proceedings opened by Timor-Leste as important contributions to ending impunity and ensuring justice for victims and survivors.

Arms transfers

Crucially, the resolution reinforced its call on States to prevent the flow of arms and military resources to the Myanmar military. It calls on States to cease the sale and transfer of arms, munitions, jet fuel, and surveillance technologies where there is a risk they may be used to commit human rights violations. This sends a clear signal to those member states that continue material or financial support to the Myanmar military risk direct complicity in the military junta’s ongoing crimes.

Over the past five years, the junta has carried out over 10,000 aerial bombardments, including 7,330 airstrikes, 1,305 drone strikes, 820 paramotor attacks, and 339 gyrocopter assaults. These aerial attacks have resulted in 4,853 documented deaths. Since 2022, approximately 1,853 healthcare facilities have been attacked. IDP camps, schools, places of worship, and public gatherings are repeatedly targeted. Ending supply of arms and aviation fuel to the junta is necessary to end these continuing war crimes and crimes against humanity by the junta.

Support for Myanmar human rights defenders and civil society

Importantly, the resolution recognizes and affirms the critical role Myanmar human rights defenders and civil society play in documenting violations, supporting affected communities, and advancing democratic aspirations. It calls for strengthened international support to these actors and urges the United Nations system to enhance protection and technical assistance to these pro-democracy groups and human rights defenders on the ground.

Call to action

This resolution sends a powerful message of international solidarity with the people of Myanmar. However, its impact will depend on concrete follow-through by Member States. Governments must now take decisive steps, individually and collectively, to align their policies and actions with the principles and recommendations set out in the resolution. This requires immediate cessation of diplomatic, economic, and security relationships with the Myanmar military, and ensuring meaningful engagement with legitimate representatives of Myanmar people, including the National Unity Government, ethnic resistance organizations, rights-based civil society groups, pro-democracy actors, and frontline humanitarian actors.

Despite supporting this resolution, several States continue to provide arms, financial resources, and other forms of support to the military. Such actions directly undermine the spirit and intent of the Council’s resolution and risk enabling further atrocities. Without a fundamental shift in approach, these States remain complicit in the grave human rights violations being perpetrated against the people of Myanmar.

We call on the States to reject the outcomes of sham election, strengthen targeted sanctions, and increase support for the people of Myanmar in their efforts to build a federal democracy.

Myanmar civil society has made clear that international pressure and accountability are essential to ending the military’s campaign of violence and achieving a sustainable, peaceful, just and inclusive future for all communities in the framework of federal democracy. The adoption of this resolution is a significant step forward. It must now be matched by sustained and principled actions by the international community.

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