UN Special Rapporteur Kelley Currie outlines priorities on situation of human rights in Myanmar

In an exclusive interview with DVB, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Kelley Currie has outlined her primary operational priorities following extensive engagement with civil society groups since officially assuming the mandate on May 1. Succeeding Tom Andrews, Currie stated she has held consultations with “probably about 50 different organizations” to document ongoing violations in preparation for her preliminary report on Myanmar to the U.N. General Assembly, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 27. She highlighted her core focus as the escalation of the armed conflict since Min Aung Hlaing was inaugurated Myanmar’s president by a military-backed parliament on April 10, while targeting “the way that certain neighbouring countries and other regional powers are enabling and driving this conflict by supporting the regime and its proxies.” A central theme emerging from her consultations is the profound disillusionment among Myanmar civil society regarding the international response, alongside an immediate demand for physical security. Currie emphasized that the “most urgent need is for civilian protection” to mitigate deliberate aerial bombardments and repeated forced displacement. Highlighting widespread frustration over governments like India, China and Russia, as well as certain Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states engaging with Naypyidaw, Currie observed a “real lack of faith in the international community” among Myanmar civil society, In response, she committed to using her platform “to validate and to amplify those concerns” directly within the U.N. Addressing the regime’s systematic restriction and manipulation of aid delivery, Currie urged donor governments to alter traditional funding frameworks and bypass military-controlled channels. She emphasized that expanding “cross-border humanitarian assistance into non-regime-controlled areas” and dealing directly with local groups is “not really so much a logistical problem,” but rather “an issue of political will.” Currie called on international donors and U.N. agencies to “resist the temptation to let the regime weaponize access,” advocating for non-traditional funding pathways that directly support local community-based organizations and women’s networks already operating on the ground. Criticizing regional diplomatic strategies, Currie warned neighbouring states against legitimizing Min Aung Hlaing’s military-proxy administration, urging regional countries to adopt a “real people-centered ASEAN and not a regime-centered ASEAN that just accommodates itself to a regime that is clearly antagonistic towards its own people.” Currie remarked that regional neighbours, including Thailand, “are going to be disappointed if they expect Min Aung Hlaing and his regime to be cooperative and helpful in resolving humanitarian crises.” On structural challenges within the U.N., Currie pointed out that multilateral action remains severely constrained by geopolitical friction, noting that U.N. Security Council efforts have been historically “hobbled” by Chinese and Russian veto threats, while the regime continues to occupy Myanmar’s seat at the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. Despite these obstacles and the expectation that Naypyidaw will resist standard U.N. visit protocols, Currie confirmed she has formally requested access from both the U.N. mission in Geneva and Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the U.N. in New York, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, reaffirming her readiness to visit “any place in Myanmar” where human rights violations are taking place. Primary Demand: Urgent mechanisms for physical civilian protection to mitigate deliberate airstrikes, repeated displacement, and artillery bombardment targeting impoverished communities. Diplomatic Frustration: Severe frustration over foreign governments “rolling out the red carpet” for Min Aung Hlaing despite documented war crimes and human rights atrocities. UN Amplification: Commitment to using the Special Rapporteur mandate to validate local CSO documentation and secure direct channels for local groups within the U.N. system. The post UN Special Rapporteur Kelley Currie outlines priorities on situation of human rights in Myanmar appeared first on DVB.