Five years on, serious international crimes against civilians in Myanmar continue unabated

Statement by Nicholas Koumjian, Head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar

Geneva, 30 January 2026 – Five years ago, the Myanmar military overthrew the country’s elected government. Since the military takeover, there is evidence that civilians across Myanmar have endured atrocities amounting to crimes against humanity and war crimes.   

Recently, military authorities have imprisoned individuals who criticized or opposed the military’s current attempt to gain legitimacy through managed elections. Those who expressed their opposition have now joined the many thousands of people arbitrarily detained for their perceived resistance to the regime. Many detainees have been subjected to brutal torture. Arbitrary arrest and crimes committed in detention are serious violations of international law, and the continued detention of these individuals represents an ongoing violation.  

The military has carried out air strikes, indiscriminately or deliberately attacking civilians in their homes, hospitals, and schools. Women, men, and children live in constant fear of attack. People of different ages and genders, including children, have survived rape, sexualized torture and other sexual and gender-based crimes. Desperately needed humanitarian aid for the starving Rakhine population has been blocked. 

While the majority of the evidence collected and analysed by the Mechanism points to crimes committed by the Myanmar military, the Mechanism is also investigating a growing number of allegations of atrocities committed by opposition armed groups. 

The Mechanism is systematically collecting, preserving and analysing evidence to establish the criminal responsibility of individuals responsible for these crimes. These perpetrators should be aware that their actions are being investigated, and the Mechanism stands ready to cooperate with relevant authorities to ensure that they are brought to justice.

The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM or Mechanism) was created by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2018 to collect and analyse evidence of the most serious international crimes and other violations of international law committed in Myanmar since 2011. It aims to facilitate justice and accountability by preserving and organizing this evidence and preparing analysis that can be used by authorities to prosecute individuals in national, regional and international courts.

For more information, visit iimm.un.org or contact iimm@un.org