The International Trade Union Confederation – Asia Pacific (ITUC Asia-Pacific) and the Global Union Federations Asia-Pacific Regional Organisations (GUF-APRO) — comprising the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), Education International (EI), International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), IndustriALL Global Union – Southeast Asia Office, International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), Public Services International (PSI), and UNI Global Union (UNI) —are calling on the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF) to immediately suspend the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) from its membership.

Four years after the military coup, the Myanmar junta continues to commit crimes against humanity, killing over 5,000 civilians, detaining more than 30,000, displacing hundreds of thousands, and targeting unionists and journalists. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has already invoked Article 33 against Myanmar for its persistent violations of labour rights.

Yet, the MNHRC remains silent. It has failed to investigate abuses, protect victims, or speak out. Worse, it echoes the junta’s propaganda, serving not as a human rights watchdog but as a shield for state violence.

SEANF’s continued recognition of MNHRC compromises the integrity of regional human rights cooperation. The global unions urge SEANF members to break their silence and take a stand for real accountability.

Read the full statement here.