Expanding Freedom and Democracy.
Hundreds of protesters with signs and flags in front of a capital building.
Reporters hold banners as they attend a demonstration march for press freedom. Yangon, Myanmar. 7 January 2014. Editorial credit: Ye Aung Thu/AFP via Getty Images

Myanmar

Myanmar’s transition from military dictatorship to democracy has faltered under the leadership of the National League for Democracy (NLD), which came to power in relatively free elections in 2015 but has failed to uphold human rights or bring security to areas affected by armed conflict. The military retains significant influence over politics, and the country is under international pressure regarding a 2017 military operation that forced more than 700,000 members of the Rohingya minority, a mostly Muslim ethnic group, to flee to Bangladesh.

FIW Hong Kong hero photo

Freedom in the World — Myanmar Country Report

Myanmar’s status declined from Partly Free to Not Free in the Freedom in the World 2020 report, due to worsening conflicts between the military and ethnic minority rebel groups that reduced freedom of movement in the country.
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Freedom on the Net — Myanmar Country Report

Myanmar is rated Not Free in Freedom on the Net, Freedom House's comprehensive study of internet freedom around the globe. 
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Our Work in Myanmar

Myanmar Rohingya refugee woman shout slogans protest against the repatriation programme at the Unchiprang Rohingya refugee camp in Teknaf, Bangladesh. Photo by K M Asad/LightRocket via Getty Images.

Freedom House has been supporting civil society organizations in Myanmar since 2013.  This has included supporting research and advocacy initiatives carried out by CSOs representing ethnic and other marginalized communities. Currently, Freedom House is supporting the efforts of civil society groups and networks to increase public participation in and advocacy on constitutional and legislative reform.

To learn more about Freedom House programs in Asia, visit our Asia-Pacific program page. 

News & Perspectives on Myanmar

United States: New Travel Bans Do Not Serve American Interests

Press release

February 2, 2020

Internet Freedom in Asia Hits Unprecedented Low

Perspectives

December 2, 2019

Unyielding Attacks on Free Speech in Myanmar Signal a Transition in Peril

Perspectives

June 7, 2019

A Quarter-Century after Rwanda’s Genocide, Mass Atrocities Continue to Multiply

Perspectives

April 24, 2019

Worried about Huawei? Take a closer look at Tencent

Perspectives

March 29, 2019

As Global Democracy Retreats, Ethnic Cleansing Is on the Rise

Perspectives

February 25, 2019

Turkey: Reverse the Terrorism Conviction of Human Rights Defender Mehmet Raci Bilici

Press release

April 3, 2020

Hungary just became a coronavirus autocracy

External

April 2, 2020

States use of digital surveillance technologies to fight pandemic must respect human rights

Joint statement

April 2, 2020