Myanmar rights abuses hit ‘new low’, UN says

Myanmar’s human rights situation has fallen to a “new low”, especially for minorities, the UN human rights office warned on August 25.

The office denounced what it called the “ever-worsening brutal abuse” of the Rohingya minority and said illicit economies, including illegal rare earth mining, were worsening civilian suffering.

The UN report covered the period from June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026. It said violence and a conflict economy were closely connected, and said human rights crises were multiplying because of illegal mining, drug production, human trafficking and scam centres.

UN rights chief Volker Turk said the report showed “suffering, misery, and cruelty on multiple levels and across the country”. He called on states, companies and investors to examine whether their actions or inaction were fair to the people of Myanmar.

Myanmar’s military seized power on February 1, 2021, ousting Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government. More than 100,000 people are estimated to have been killed across all sides over the past five years as the military has fought pro-democracy and ethnic minority rebels.

The report said the military’s pursuit of control and legitimacy had deepened civilian suffering and humanitarian concerns. It highlighted airstrikes, arson attacks, displacement and the use of new technologies to expand surveillance.

Coup leader Min Aung Hlaing took over as civilian president in April and has sought greater diplomatic recognition abroad. The report said that quest for legitimacy had worsened protection concerns for civilians.