Background

In 2019, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar (“the FFM”) presented conference room paper A/HRC/42/CRP.3 on the economic interests of the Myanmar military to the forth-second session of the Human Rights Council. In 2021, the Human Rights Council, in resolution A/HRC/RES/46/21, requested the Office of the High Commissioner, with the support of experts, to prepare a detailed assessment of the progress made and remaining challenges with regard to the recommendations in the conference room paper. This report will be presented to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-first session in September 2022.

Additionally, resolution 46/21 also encouraged “all business enterprises, including transnational corporations and domestic enterprises operating in Myanmar, to implement the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the recommendations made by the independent international factfinding mission on the economic interests of the Myanmar armed forces, and requests the home States of businesses investing in Myanmar or with parts of their supply chains in Myanmar to take appropriate measures so that those businesses conduct enhanced due diligence and that their activities do not contribute to or cause any human rights violations or abuses, in accordance with the Guiding Principles.”

Objectives

This report aims to provide an update on developments since September 2019 in relation to the progress made and remaining challenges with regards to the recommendations made by the FFM, including to

• Member States, and relevant regional and international intergovernmental organization;
• Investors and businesses;
• Consumers;
• International financial institutions;
• The United Nations, including its funds, programmes and agencies.

The report will also examine new challenges in the application of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights since the military coup in February 2021, and make further recommendations to Member States and other stakeholders.