UN Expert Urges UK to Lead Global Rejection of Myanmar Junta Elections

Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, made the call at the conclusion of his official visit to the UK.

A United Nations human rights expert has urged the United Kingdom to take a leading international role in rejecting the Myanmar military junta’s planned election later this month, warning that the process is designed to fabricate legitimacy for an illegal and abusive regime.

Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, made the call at the conclusion of his official visit to the UK. He welcomed the UK Government’s rejection of the junta’s proposed election but said far stronger and more coordinated international action is urgently needed.

“I am heartened by the United Kingdom’s rejection of the junta’s election scheme,” Andrews said. “I urge the UK Government to proactively reach out to other governments, particularly in Asia, to ensure they do the same. A strong, coordinated rejection of these sham elections is essential to deny the junta the means to fabricate credibility and legitimacy.”

Myanmar has been under military rule since the February 2021 coup, which overthrew the country’s democratically elected government. Since then, the junta has carried out widespread human rights violations, including airstrikes on civilian areas, arbitrary detention, torture, and the targeting of journalists, activists, and ethnic minorities.

Andrews warned that the human rights crisis in Myanmar continues to worsen and expressed concern that the UK’s response has not kept pace with the severity of the situation.

“While the military continues to escalate its attacks on civilian targets, there have been no new targeted UK sanctions against the junta since October 2024,” he said. He also noted that protection pathways for people fleeing Myanmar appear to be narrowing, raising concerns for those seeking safety under new UK policy settings.

The Special Rapporteur further criticised the absence of the UK’s Human Rights and Democracy Annual Report, which has not been published since July 2023. He said the lack of an updated report leaves a significant gap in the UK Government’s public assessment of deteriorating human rights conditions, including those in Myanmar.

As the UN Security Council penholder on Myanmar, Andrews said the UK has a special responsibility to elevate international attention and demand accountability.

“I am concerned that the Security Council’s engagement on the crisis in Myanmar has fallen short,” he said. “The UK should increase the visibility of this crisis and press for meaningful accountability for the junta’s actions.”

He suggested that the UK could convene a public Security Council session on Myanmar’s failure to comply with provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice in the Rohingya genocide case, stressing that a stronger human rights focus is needed in UN deliberations.

Andrews also condemned the recent bombing of Mrauk-U General Hospital in western Rakhine State on Human Rights Day, which reportedly killed at least 30 people and injured more than 60.

“This attack, carried out on a day meant to reaffirm our commitment to human rights, underscores the junta’s complete disregard for civilian lives and its blatant violations of international humanitarian and human rights law,” he said.

The Special Rapporteur said the UK is uniquely positioned to drive a stronger global response, citing its leadership role at the UN Security Council, its sanctions against the military regime, and its status as a major humanitarian donor.

“The people of Myanmar have shown extraordinary courage in the face of brutal repression,” Andrews said. “They deserve an international response that matches their determination. The United Kingdom can play a decisive role — and now is the moment to act.”