Report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar: The Crisis and Human Rights Situation in Myanmar

List of Key Chapter Titles

1. Introduction
2. A Desperate Quest for Legitimacy: The Junta Prepares for Sham Elections
3. The Junta Compounds Suffering from the Devastating Earthquake
4. Escalation of Attacks on Civilians
5. Violence Targeting Rohingya and Rakhine Civilians
6. Deepening Humanitarian Crisis and Cuts in Foreign Aid
7. The Situation of Refugees from Myanmar
8. States Taking Action to Isolate the Junta
9. Conclusions and Recommendations

Document Overview

This report, submitted by Thomas H. Andrews, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 52/31, was released as an "Advance Unedited Version" on 20 October 2025. It systematically assesses the sharply deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in Myanmar since the 2021 military coup, particularly during 2024-2025. The report states that the Myanmar crisis has reached a critical juncture, with the junta's ongoing systematic violence against civilians, suppression of fundamental freedoms, and blatant disregard for international humanitarian law plunging the country into an unprecedented catastrophe.

The report's core analysis revolves around the three pillars sustaining the junta's rule and violence: funds, weapons, and legitimacy. First, it details the sham electoral process orchestrated by the junta to create a façade of legitimacy, exposing how it has thoroughly extinguished the possibility of free and fair elections by manipulating the legal framework, dissolving opposition parties, imprisoning political leaders (including Aung San Suu Kyi), and suppressing freedom of expression. Second, using the 7.7 magnitude earthquake in central Myanmar in March 2025 as an example, the report accuses the junta of turning a natural disaster into a humanitarian catastrophe by deliberately obstructing relief efforts, confiscating aid, and intensifying military attacks on civilians, even increasing airstrikes on civilian targets after declaring a "humanitarian ceasefire."

In its assessment of the conduct of all parties to the conflict, the report not only details serious human rights violations by junta forces, including airstrikes, arson, sexual violence, and forced conscription against civilians, but also notes allegations of killings, torture, forced recruitment, and atrocities against civilians by anti-junta armed forces, including the People's Defence Forces, the Arakan Army, and Rohingya armed groups. The report specifically focuses on the complex situation in Rakhine State, describing the vortex of violence engulfing Rohingya and Rakhine civilians caught in the crossfire between the junta, the Arakan Army, and Rohingya armed groups, and the resulting refugee flows.

The report further reveals the spiraling humanitarian crisis within Myanmar: over 3.6 million people are displaced, 21.9 million require humanitarian assistance, and 16.7 million face acute food insecurity. The junta's systematic obstruction of aid access, coupled with severe underfunding from the international community, has forced agencies like the World Food Programme to cut assistance to millions, with at least 65 healthcare facilities closed. Simultaneously, the report analyzes the dire situation faced by Myanmar refugees in neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Thailand, and India, including risks of aid cuts, restrictions on movement and livelihood, detention, and refoulement.

Based on this analysis, the report offers sharp criticism of the international community's inadequate response, noting that momentum for sanctions against the junta has stalled, key financial institutions like Myanma Economic Bank remain largely unsanctioned, and there is a massive funding gap for the humanitarian response. Consequently, the report presents concrete and actionable policy recommendations to Member States, ASEAN, financial institutions, and others, centered on cutting off the junta's sources of funds, weapons, and legitimacy, increasing support for affected populations, and ensuring accountability for crimes committed by all parties to the conflict.

This report is based on first-hand witness testimony collected by the Special Rapporteur, communications with various conflict parties, data from independent monitoring groups (such as ACLED and Myanmar Witness), and assessments by UN agencies. It aims to provide policymakers, researchers, and the international community with the most current and authoritative assessment of the situation in Myanmar and a roadmap for action.