Statement 3/ 2026
The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) was initially established on 5 September 2011 by Notification 34/2011 issued by the Union Government, with the objective of promoting and protecting the fundamental rights of citizens as enshrined in the Constitution (2008) of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. In order to enable the Commission to function in a systematic and robust manner, and to enhance the comprehensiveness of its work in the promotion and protection of human rights, the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission Law (2014) was enacted on 28 March 2014 as Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Law No 21. During the drafting of the Commission Law, efforts were made to ensure compliance with the Paris Principles relating to the status and functioning of national human rights institutions for protection and promotion of human rights. In this regard, advice and legal opinions were sought from subject matter experts and legal advisors of international organizations, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF), and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI) in Sweden. The drafting process for the Commission Law (Bill) took approximately one year and six months and included consultations with relevant domestic government institutions, as well as discussions with national legal experts, subject-matter specialists, civil society organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
Since its establishment in 2011, and over the course of its fifteen years of operation, the Commission has formulated and implemented framework of action plan, long-term strategic plans, and annual operational plans in order to effectively carry out its mandate of promoting and protecting human rights.
With regard to human rights promotion and education, the Commission has organized educational talks, delivered lectures, conducted training courses and workshops, and produced and disseminated human rights education bulletins and videos for responsible personnel within various State mechanisms as well as for members of the public at different levels. In addition, the Commission translated and disseminated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which contains the human rights standards to be upheld by all peoples and nations, into Myanmar language and 30 ethnic languages, and also produced Braille editions for persons with visual impairments.
In relation to human rights protection, the Commission has received and screened complaints concerning alleged human rights violations, coordinated with relevant organizations to facilitate remedies for grievances raised in such complaints, and conducted on-site investigations where necessary. The Commission has also undertaken inspections of prisons, jails, lock-ups, and detention centres across the country and submitted recommendations accordingly. As a result of the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations by the relevant authorities, efforts have been made to enable prisoners, detainees, and persons in custody to more fully enjoy their fundamental rights.
Following its establishment, the Commission also urged and recommended that Myanmar accede to international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (CRC-OP-AC). Myanmar acceded to these instruments in 2015. The Commission has further submitted recommendations from a human rights perspective to relevant authorities to promote the alignment of existing domestic laws and draft laws with international human rights standards, contributing to certain progress. In addition, the Commission translated seven of the nine core international human rights treaties and five optional protocols into Myanmar language and published and disseminated them.
In order to keep the public informed about its human rights activities and perspectives, the Commission has issued public statements through state-run television and newspapers, the Commission’s website, and the Myanmar National Portal. These statements have addressed, inter alia, the rights of vulnerable groups including children, the elderly, women, and persons with disabilities; statements encouraging stability and peace, observations on human rights situations relating to citizens’ rights to education, health, and life; statements regarding the Commission’s activities in promoting and protecting human rights, and statements commemorating international human rights observances. Commemorative ceremonies for International Human Rights Day have also been held annually, including four ceremonies conducted at the State level.
Pursuant to Section 22 (g) of the Commission Law, the Commission has engaged in cooperation with United Nations human rights bodies, regional and international human rights institutions, and international non-governmental organizations. Such cooperation has included participation in meetings, workshops, seminars, training courses, and the hosting of relevant events. In October 2025, the Commission signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation to collaborate on matters relating to the promotion and protection of human rights.
The Commission has also undertaken election monitoring from a human rights perspective, which is among the recognized functions of national human rights institutions, during all three phases of the recently concluded multiparty democracy general elections. Reports containing recommendations concerning the citizens’ rights in the context of the elections were compiled and submitted to the relevant authorities.
Since its inception, the Commission has submitted annual reports containing recommendations regarding the human rights situation in the country as well as the Commission’s activities and functions to the President and the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. Special reports on human rights matters have also been submitted to the President when necessary.
Over the fifteen-year period of its operations, the Commission has faced a number of challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters such as Cyclone Mocha and the major Mandalay earthquake, as well as states of emergency and internal conflicts within the country. Notwithstanding these circumstances, the Commission has continued to carry out its mandate of promoting and protecting human rights. The Commission hereby reaffirms its commitment to further strengthening its efforts to safeguard the fundamental rights and human rights of all citizens.
Myanmar National Human Rights Commission
Date: 15 March 2026
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