A/HRC/56/CRP.8
fully support humanitarian relief for the Rohingya or to ensure that aid reaches the most
vulnerable, including displaced women, girls, and LGBT people. Worse still, some
governments and private companies continue to arm and legitimize the SAC and facilitate its
access to the international banking system.
14.
The United Nations, governments, humanitarian organizations, and donors must do
more to support women, girls, and LGBT people in Myanmar. They must isolate the SAC,
help hold the perpetrators of sexual violence to account, provide much needed humanitarian
support to those with the greatest needs, including women, girls and LGBT people, and
support the institutions and leaders that are laying the foundation for a peaceful and
democratic Myanmar founded on the principles of equality and non-discrimination.
II. Methodology and terminology
15.
The Special Rapporteur has prepared this conference room paper in accordance with
his mandate as established by the Human Rights Council in Resolution 55/20. That resolution
specifies that the Special Rapporteur should monitor the situation of human rights in
Myanmar and make recommendations on additional steps necessary to address the ongoing
crisis, including through thematic reports and conference room papers.1
16.
In this conference room paper, the acronym LGBT refers to not only lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender persons, but also to the diverse identities and orientations by which
people identify.
17.
To prepare this conference room paper, the Special Rapporteur sought input from
States, UN agencies, international organizations, civil society organizations, human rights
networks, academics, and gender experts. He additionally carried out open-source research
and reviewed reporting from Myanmar civil society, journalists, and international
organizations.
18.
In November 2023, the Special Rapporteur published a call for submissions on the
gendered impacts of the coup and conflict in Myanmar.2 The Special Rapporteur also held
meetings and consultations with various resistance groups, civil society groups, political
representatives, and activists to discuss critical issues relating to gender and sexual
orientation. Whenever possible, the Special Rapporteur seeks to use his mandate to allow the
people of Myanmar to speak for themselves and share their perspective on the human rights
situation in Myanmar. He strongly believes in the importance of listening to and
understanding these perspectives and grounding his reporting and recommendations in the
experiences of local actors and people impacted by human rights issues on the ground.
19.
In line with the principles of do-no harm, and to avoid re-traumatization, the Special
Rapporteur reviewed testimony collected by trusted local partners that work closely with
communities to document human rights violations against women, girls, and LGBT persons.
Some of that testimony has been included in this report.
20.
The Special Rapporteur extends his deep appreciation to all those who offered their
time and provided information for this report. The Special Rapporteur is also grateful for the
National Unity Government’s engagement as he prepared this report, including by providing
1
2
6
Human Rights Council Resolution 55/20, Situation of human rights in Myanmar, UN Doc.
A/HRC/55/20, 4 April 2024,
https://undocs.org/Home/Mobile?FinalSymbol=A%2FHRC%2FRES%2F55%2F20&Language=E&D
eviceType=Desktop&LangRequested=False.
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Call for submissions: The gendered
impacts of the coup and conflict in Myanmar, 22 December 2023, https://www.ohchr.org/en/calls-forinput/2023/call-submissions-gendered-impacts-coup-and-conflict-myanmar-also-available.