Myanmar (1991-2025)

The GA has a long record of engagement on Myanmar, beginning in the early 1990s. Following a military coup in 1988 and the annulment of subsequent elections, the GA passed resolutions in 1991 and 1992 urging the military regime in Myanmar to respect the 1990 election results (A/RES/46/132) and to restore democracy (A/RES/47/144). Beginning in 1993, the GA then adopted resolutions on a near-annual basis that expressed concern over the human rights situation and requested the Secretary-General to use his good offices to help address the ongoing political issues and assist in the national reconciliation process.¹ This marked the start of a series of resolutions over a decade where the GA called for mediation and dialogue facilitation through the Secretary-General’s good offices. This period saw the appointment of special envoys by the Secretary-General, who engaged with Myanmar’s authorities and opposition leaders, aiming to foster dialogue and encourage democratic reforms. The resolutions consistently highlighted the role of the good offices in promoting human rights, democratization and the rule of law in Myanmar.

After Myanmar’s democratic transition in 2015, there was a brief pause in GA activity on this matter. However, beginning in 2017, Myanmar was again brought onto the GA’s agenda, in particular to consider the human rights implications of military operations affecting Rohingya communities. In 2017, the GA adopted a resolution that called for an end to the continuing military operations against the Rohingya community and requested the Secretary-General to appoint a special envoy on Myanmar to lend good offices on the matter (A/RES/72/248, paras. 1(a), 10). The Secretary-General appointed an envoy in April 2018², and the GA has continued to renew the position through to the time of writing (in the 80th session).³

Following the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, on 25 June 2021, the GA passed resolution 75/287 by a vote of 119 States in favour, 1 against (Belarus) and 36 abstentions (A/RES/75/287). Among other recommendations and pronouncements (discussed in an accountability-related case study on Myanmar) the resolution reaffirmed its support for the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General and her efforts to engage constructively with the situation, and urged the armed forces in Myanmar to cooperate with her efforts.

On 22 December 2023, the GA issued a resolution on the situation of Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar, calling for the Secretary-General to again continue his good offices, renewing the mandate for the Special Envoy, and requesting the development of a more effective and coordinated strategy concerning Myanmar (A/RES/78/219, paras. 30(a)–(d)). One year later, in response to the worsening humanitarian situation and continued violence in Myanmar, the GA decided via resolution 79/182 to hold a “high-level conference” on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar “in order to propose a comprehensive, innovative, concrete and time-bound plan for a sustainable resolution of the crisis” in 2025 (A/RES/79/182, para. 36).⁴