HRC58: Oral statement during update with High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

Item 2:Oral update with the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you Mr President,

CSW thanks the High Commissioner for his update on the situation in Myanmar.

The military junta has persistently employed forms of psychological, physical and sexual torture in its campaign of violence across the country. The use of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment targeting religious and ethnic minorities, including those arbitrarily detained without due process, is particularly concerning.

Detained Buddhist monks face severe mistreatment, including psychological torture and beatings. They are often forced to disrobe of their monastic attire and denied essential practices, any refusal to comply results in physical assault.

The ongoing infliction of torture during military interrogations has resulted in the death of religious leaders, including Christian pastor, Salai Ngwe Kyar in 2021 and a Muslim man in Yangon, Ko Ko Latt, who was forcibly recruited by the junta under conscription law and died from torture and fatal beatings in 2024.

The military junta’s inhuman treatment toward religious minorities and clergy evidences a broader strategy to suppress dissent and erode minority religious identities.

CSW calls on the Myanmar military to cease its targeting of religious and ethnic minorities, and to end the use of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

We further urge the international community to increase efforts to address reports of unlawful detention and the use of torture in Myanmar.

High Commissioner, what more can be done to ensure specific support, protection, care and treatment for survivors of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in Myanmar?

Thank you.