UN Special Rapporteur urges Australia to lead emergency action to address deepening crisis in Myanmar and its escalating impact on the region

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews ended a ten-day mission to Australia today by urging the Australian government to help forge a more effective regional and international response to the crisis in Myanmar.

“Myanmar has become an invisible crisis for much of the world. The international response to this crisis is failing. A course correction is imperative that includes coordinated, strategic action to deny the junta the three things that it needs to sustain itself: money, weapons and legitimacy,” said Andrews.

Australia is in a critically important position to provide the leadership necessary to make this happen,” said Andrews.

“Australia has historically demonstrated timely and effective leadership in the Asia-Pacific region and is one of the top donors to humanitarian assistance for the people of Myanmar. I urge Australia to use its unique and influential position in the region to lead strategic, coordinated action to isolate the junta and protect the people of Myanmar. The stakes could not be higher, not only for the people of Myanmar but also for the region,” said Andrews.

In a statement delivered at the end of his visit, the Special Rapporteur thanked the government of Australia for facilitating his visit, during which he met Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the Australian Human Rights Ambassador, other senior government officials, members of parliament, and the Australian Human Rights Commission. He also expressed gratitude for the civil society representatives, UN officials, academics, researchers, students, policy analysts, faith-based organisations, and members of the Myanmar diaspora whom he met during the trip.

“The people of Myanmar, including those currently living in Australia, are fighting back against the junta’s violence and oppression, but they need the support of the international community, and they need it now. Australia has provided more than $860 million in humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar, including support to the Rohingya in the camps in Bangladesh and their host communities since 2017. Australian sanctions have played a key role in isolating the junta and depriving it of the weapons and resources it needs to sustain its attacks on the people of Myanmar. But, there is more that Australia can and must do,” said the Special Rapporteur.

The Special Rapporteur called on Australia to support an emergency convening of nations and stakeholders to address the crisis in Myanmar.

“An emergency summit on Myanmar could focus world attention on a spiraling human rights and humanitarian crisis that is destabilizing the region but, sadly, has become invisible to much of the world. As a strong democracy in the region and a strategic partner to ASEAN, Australia is uniquely positioned to mobilize political support for the people of Myanmar. Doing so is not only the right thing to do, it is in Australia’s national interest,” said Andrews.

“I urge Australia to not only denounce the junta’s dangerous so-called census and plans for a sham election, but urge other countries in the region to do the same,” he added.

The Special Rapporteur expressed deep concern about the plight of the Rohingya people, who have been attacked and displaced amid intense fighting in Rakhine State. He warned that without stronger international action, thousands of Rohingya may soon attempt dangerous sea journeys to reach safety and security. He urged Australia to address the crisis at its source and, as co-chair of the Bali Process, prepare a robust maritime emergency response plan that facilitates rescue, disembarkation, and humane treatment of those in danger at sea. The Special Rapporteur also called on Australia to scale up its resettlement program, which has provided safety and security to many fleeing violence and oppression in Myanmar.

“I look forward to working with the Government of Australia toward the realization of a free, democratic, and rights-respecting Myanmar,” Andrews concluded.