A/HRC/39/64
Advance Edited Version
Distr.: General
12 September 2018
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Thirty-ninth session
10–28 September 2018
Agenda item 4
Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention
Report of the independent international fact-finding mission
on Myanmar*
Summary
The Human Rights Council established the independent international fact-finding
mission on Myanmar in its resolution 34/22. In accordance with its mandate, the mission
focused on the situation in Kachin, Rakhine and Shan States since 2011. It also
examined the infringement of fundamental freedoms, including the rights to freedom of
expression, assembly and peaceful association, and the question of hate speech.
The mission established consistent patterns of serious human rights violations and
abuses in Kachin, Rakhine and Shan States, in addition to serious violations of
international humanitarian law. These are principally committed by the Myanmar
security forces, particularly the military. Their operations are based on policies, tactics
and conduct that consistently fail to respect international law, including by deliberately
targeting civilians. Many violations amount to the gravest crimes under international
law. In the light of the pervasive culture of impunity at the domestic level, the mission
finds that the impetus for accountability must come from the international community. It
makes concrete recommendations to that end, including that named senior generals of
the Myanmar military should be investigated and prosecuted in an international criminal
tribunal for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
* The present report was submitted after the deadline in order to reflect the most recent developments.