e62;45A&#$%&T-60'> 23#%2-%!3"45#%67"%68-" 9/5*3:;%'-1'G:% 2@P'*3:;%'6>&'"&25A&=/5 62&!"&U ="=3?%U 2/5=%.">.% #"G.%>)/<B%S 8$.%$"(/5:%:' A 6.87:;% '"9H?A2@P'*3:;%'6>&6L=B"*+=%=/5 2=%*A8*:%&U 8$.%$"(/5:%:A 73QO!B%&-5A'68**A T-60 alk():;% a{l '> '*3:;%'6>&$+"& '"$*A*+=%6-&8*:%&'"&87:;% 23#%2-%!3"45#%67"%68-"9/5*3:;%=/5 62&!"&>.% <6D"#@BH6L=":%& (/5:%:A#="6>)O6$)"=%#3:% 8-<Y-H&87!%<B%S 23#%2-%!3"45#%67"%68-"9/5*3:;%=/5 62&!"&U ="=3?%U 2/5=%.">.%#"E.%'> 6'"=%-125-%:.%& _ >-%=/5 25-%69":%>.% 2/5'-%<B%S (`) 23#%2-%!3"45#%67"%68-"9/5*3:;%=/5 6()"=%?)=%8*:%&$) 6>)":%L=T%>$B%S (_) 23#%2-%!3"45#%67"%68-"9/5*3:;%=/5 '\.%P'#"&87!%6!6<" '>"$+"&'"& 7?%>)"&6-&>$B%S The right to freedom of expression in Myanmar Between gaining independence in 1948 and the 2010 elections, the government of Myanmar has faced long-standing and regular criticisms from national and international human rights organisations for failing significantly to respect the right to freedom of expression in the country. Substantiated reports have confirmed a number of concerns: • the complete control of the broadcast media and large parts of the printed media • the systematic repression of dissent • the responsibility of security and law enforcement officials for human rights violations, including unlawful killings, extra-judicial executions, excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests, torture and other ill-treatment • the imprisonment of human rights defenders • the banning of political opposition parties • the drastic curtailing of the education system • the undermining of the rule of law • grave human rights violations and abuses. Since the creation of a new constitution in 2008 and a semi-civilian government in 2010, respect for the right to freedom of expression has increased. Some legislative changes have been implemented, giving more protection to this right. However, there is a long way to go as most laws are extremely restrictive, and the government still controls all the broadcast media and large parts of the printed press. It also continues to imprison human rights defenders, journalists and political activists who speak out, and maintains secrecy over all parts of the state. Myanmar is governed by the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which consists predominantly of former military men who became civilians in order to join parliament. In 2010, the government was elected in a process that was rejected as not being free and fair.6 Further by-elections took place in 2012 and as these elections were freer and fairer, the National League for Democracy (NLD) won the small number of available seats by a landslide. However, six decades of human rights violations and absolute ARTICLE 19 - Censored gender: Women’s right to freedom of expression and information in Myanmar - Page 15