Burma Forum Joint UPR Submission

Burma’s human rights record is characterized by a pervasive culture of impunity, enabling the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to violate a host of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

After nearly 50 years of successive military rule, there is a lack of adherence to human rights principles and a lack of rule of law and judicial independence, which has led to the creation of policies and measures by State authorities that are at complete odds with international human rights standards. There are no statutory or constitutional bodies to promote and protect human rights. Formal and informal human rights education is strictly repressed. Independent civil society organizations (CSOs) who promote human rights and document rights abuses inside the country are harassed by the State, and individuals subject to arrest. As a result, hundreds of CSOs are operating in exile, implementing training programs, publishing reports, and lobbying the international community and media, while working alongside those who are inside Burma.