Resources - National Human Rights Institution

Junta-Controlled Myanmar National Human Rights Commision

The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) was established in 2011 by the Thein Sein government with the passing of its Enabling Law in 2014. Since its inception, the MNHRC has consistently faced a persistent public trust deficit due to its failure to operate in line with the Paris Principles — the international standards for national human rights institutions (NHRIs). The MNHRC has consistently lacked the independence and impartiality required to operate effectively and transparently. Following the failed coup attempt on 1 February 2021, the Myanmar military junta subsummed the MNHRC under its control by an order issued through its propaganda platform. Since then, the MNHRC has demonstrated its willingness to act as the illegal military junta's proxy, remaining silent on and complicit in grave human rights violations perpetrated across the country by the Myanmar military junta since the coup attempt.

The MNHRC is not merely a dysfunctional NHRI controlled by the military junta; it has become an accessory to the Myanmar military junta's commission of international crimes. By shielding these crimes and failing to uphold international human rights standards, the MNHRC isin flagrant breach of the Paris Principles.

Due to its continued lack of independence, impartiality and credibility, the Global Network of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) — one of the biggest global human rights networks — removed the MNHRC from its platform in December 2024, with a resolution adopted in March 2025. Following GANHRI's decision, the National Unity Government dissolved the MNHRC in February 2025.

This page serves as a repository of publications by the now-dissolved MNHRC, documenting its role as an accessory to the Myanmar military's commission of mass atrocity crimes.