Press Release: On The United Nations Security Council’s Briefing On the Situation In Myanmar
The U.N. Security Council should swiftly follow its open meeting on Myanmar with momentous actions without further delay to prevent the loss of civilian lives, as well as ensure lasting peace and security in the country and the region, says Women’s Peace Network.
“Today shows how moral leadership can help galvanize one of the most powerful bodies in the world into greater action. By gathering the necessary political will to hold this meeting, this Council has shown more of its potential to pursue decisive actions over a year after its still-unimplemented resolution 2669. I hope that the messages for accountability from the meeting will be echoed throughout Rakhine State, and immediately responded with actionable measures for the full protection, peace and coexistence for all communities. The Security Council must no longer fail the people of Myanmar, including Rohingya, over and over again,” says Wai Wai Nu, WPN’s Founder and Executive Director.
The U.N. Security Council’s briefing on the situation in Myanmar marks its first after the Burmese military’s attempted coup on February 1, 2021. Since then, the military has committed atrocities of an increasing scale and frequency that have been reported as likely amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity according to key U.N. bodies and experts. The military’s forced conscription of civilians starting February 2024 will further place even more devastating physical, mental, social, and economic burdens on them – particularly on women and youth. The ongoing crisis follows the military’s decades-long commission of atrocities, including conflict-related sexual violence, against ethnic and religious minorities; they have also been described as likely amounting to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and – against Rohingya – genocide.
Since the rapid escalation of armed conflict in Rakhine State, early warning signs of further atrocities have been increasingly observed: the Burmese military has forcibly conscripted more Rohingya, sent them to its lethal battles, fully obstructed access to humanitarian aid, launched more airstrikes against Rohingya villages, and orchestrated protests to stoke ethnic divisions. More Rohingya, especially women and girls, will now be forced to escape over land and sea.
“In Rakhine State, atrocities are being committed by the second, with Rohingya now caught between two parties without any means to protect themselves. Against this disproportionately vulnerable and marginalized group, playing into the military’s divide-and-conquer tactics, hateful narratives, and genocidal rhetoric will fuel more atrocities,” says Wai Wai Nu.
In line with its mandate, as well as Responsibility to Protect and Women, Peace, and Security agendas, the Council should now take action on the non-compliance of the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice’s The Gambia v. Myanmar; and adopt a new, binding, actionable resolution that reflects the people of Myanmar’s will, especially by referring the country’s situation to the International Criminal Court and imposing comprehensive economic sanctions and arms and jet fuel embargo against the Burmese military.
