War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in Burma

Burma Briefing No. 14

For twenty years the United Nations has documented human rights abuses in Burma which may be in violation of international law. In March 2010 the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Burma called on the UN to establish a Commission of Inquiry into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity. Later that year, with no serious moves being made to establish an inquiry, he repeated his call, stating: “Failing to act on accountability in Myanmar will embolden the perpetrators of international crimes and further postpone long-overdue justice.” Burma’s democracy movement is also calling for a UN Commission of Inquiry, and human rights groups worldwide are supporting that call, including Burma campaign groups, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

The issue of war crimes and crimes against humanity taking place in Burma is becoming one of the main issues discussed by the international community in relation to Burma.

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