UN independent human rights experts have called for urgent international intervention in Myanmar as civilian deaths hit 6,000 since the military junta seized power in February 2021 following a coup, leading to mass civilian resistance and international condemnation.
"There are now 6,000 reminders that the international community is failing the people of Myanmar," the Human Rights Council -appointed experts stated in a news release on Monday. "It is time for a change, starting with moving this disaster out of the shadows of international attention".
'Course correction' needed
The experts called for an urgent "course correction" in the international response, emphasising that while targeted action has proven effective - with sanctions reducing the junta's weapons procurement by one-third - current measures "remain grossly inadequate and lack the coordination and strategic targeting necessary to deliver the support the people of Myanmar need and deserve".
They urged increased assistance for civil society organisations documenting abuses and delivering humanitarian aid.
"Governments and donors also need to significantly step up assistance to civil society organisations documenting human rights abuses, protecting civilian populations and delivery life-saving humanitarian aid".
The experts revealed recent evidence demonstrates that coordinated international pressure can yield results.
"We know that international action makes a difference. We have documented it has reduced the junta's access to weapons that its uses to attack civilians," the experts said, following the publication of UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews' 'Billion Dollar Death Trade' report.
