Nearly 150 civil society groups demand Myanmar National Human Rights Commission not be given 2027 SEANF chairmanship

August 9 Mizzima. || A joint statement released on August 7 by 146 civil society organizations from Myanmar, the region, and internationally expressed extreme concern over reports that the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), controlled by the military junta, is planning to assume the chairmanship of the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF) in 2027. The organizations called on SEANF member states to uphold the basic principles and prevent the MNHRC from holding any leadership positions within SEANF, and to urgently review its membership status. The statement indicated that allowing the MNHRC to be appointed as SEANF chair would severely damage the credibility, legitimacy, and reputation of a regional human rights mechanism, and would further enable the MNHRC to act as a shield for the Myanmar military junta to evade international accountability. The civil society groups pointed out that SEANF, as a regional network of national human rights institutions in Southeast Asia, relies on its adherence to the standards of independence, pluralism, and effectiveness outlined in the UN Paris Principles for its credibility. The MNHRC does not meet these standards, and following a review by the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), its "B" status accreditation was removed in December 2024. At that time, concerns were raised about the MNHRC's lack of independence, its ineffective functioning since the 2021 military coup, its insufficient engagement with civil society organizations and the international human rights system, and its potential involvement in the appointment process and the junta's human rights violations and atrocities. Subsequently, the MNHRC's membership in GANHRI was revoked in March 2025, and the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) also de-listed it in May 2025. According to the statement, the MNHRC has not independently investigated the widespread and systematic human rights violations committed by the Myanmar military junta since 2021, nor has it taken steps to hold perpetrators accountable. Specifically, it was noted that the MNHRC has failed to provide effective protection or justice for arbitrary arrests, torture, sexual violence, deaths in custody, enforced disappearances, mass killings, and aerial and ground attacks on civilians, including children. The civil society groups stated that the MNHRC's actions and inactions have helped the junta to portray itself as monitoring human rights, but have failed to provide accountability and protection for victims and survivors. The statement also expressed concern that despite the MNHRC's diminished international recognition, its public activities and international relations have become more active recently. These include meetings with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on July 17 and with the Human Rights Commissioner of the Russian Federation on July 10, which the groups assess as likely aimed at increasing international visibility for the junta's post-election transition to civilian rule narrative. However, it was stated that increased public and international relations cannot substitute for genuine independence, accountability, and adherence to the Paris Principles. Therefore, the civil society groups urged SEANF member states to take urgent action to prevent the MNHRC from assuming the chairmanship in 2027 and to formally remove it from the forum. They also stated that SEANF membership and leadership positions should only be held by organizations with genuine commitment to independence, credibility, and the protection of human rights.