January 6, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

The text of the following joint statement was released by the governments of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, the United Kingdom and the European Union and its member states to address the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

“We are deeply concerned by the worsening human rights and humanitarian crisis across Myanmar. This crisis is exacerbated by the escalation of violence, as well as intercommunal tension. The regime’s ongoing and violent repression of the people of Myanmar is unacceptable.

“There are credible reports of human rights violations and abuses, and international humanitarian law violations committed against civilians. These include: abduction and forced recruitment of children and members of ethnic and religious minorities; the Myanmar military’s indiscriminate aerial bombardments that kill and injure civilians and damage civilian infrastructure; sexual and gender-based violence; the burning of homes; attacks on humanitarian workers and facilities; and restrictions on humanitarian access by the military regime and various armed groups. We have also seen disturbing reports of dismemberment and burning of civilians.

“The intensification of the conflict in Rakhine State and the suffering experienced by all communities there, including Rohingya, is deeply concerning. The reports of violations of international law targeting Rohingya, in addition to the military’s history of stoking intercommunal tensions in Rakhine State and elsewhere across the country, underscore the grave dangers to civilians. 

“We are troubled by the lack of safe areas for civilians to escape the conflict and attacks on civilians fleeing the violence across Myanmar. Humanitarian needs have increased due to the conflict and been exacerbated by the regime’s denial of humanitarian access. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the displacement of more than 3.5 million people, some of whom have fled the country. More than 15 million people now face acute food insecurity. Disease outbreak, including cholera, is on the rise while access constraints inhibit the delivery of medical assistance.

“We urge the military regime and all armed actors in Myanmar to de-escalate violence, respect international humanitarian law and international human rights laws, protect civilians, and allow full, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access so that life-saving aid can be provided to all people in need, including women, children, and members of ethnic and minority populations. We emphasize that addressing the underlying discrimination and brutal treatment faced by Rohingya must be a part of a political solution to the crisis in Myanmar. 

“We again urge the implementation of UNSC resolution 2669 (2022), which called for the immediate end to all forms of violence in Myanmar and urged restraint, the de-escalation of tensions, and the release of all arbitrarily detained prisoners.  

“We reiterate our full support for ASEAN’s central role in finding a resolution to the crisis, including the work of the ASEAN Chair and Special Envoy, consistent with the Five Point Consensus, and acknowledge the important role of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar. 

“We continue to support calls for genuine, constructive, and inclusive dialogue to find a peaceful solution to the situation in Myanmar and a return to the path of inclusive democracy.”