Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun, has revealed that Myanmar has become a major hub for human trafficking-related online scams and cross-border crimes in Southeast Asia. He made these remarks during a high-level meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York, preparing for the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. The Ambassador detailed how civilians in Myanmar, particularly women, young girls, children, and youth, are bearing the brunt of the military council’s brutality. He explained how increasing numbers of families are falling into poverty daily due to economic decline, displacement, and inadequate services.
The Ambassador emphasized that while international community efforts to address human trafficking are important, for Myanmar, the only sustainable solution lies in ending the military dictatorship, stopping the illegal military coup, and ending the military council’s impunity. He reported that since the February 2021 military coup, the terrorist military has been severely violating international laws, including international humanitarian law and human rights law. The military council continues to commit atrocities against civilians, including aerial attacks, killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, burning of villages and towns, and forced recruitment. He highlighted how the rule of law within the country has been destroyed by the military council’s actions.
Due to the military council’s violence, more than 6,800 civilians have been killed, over 110,000 homes have been destroyed or burned, 3.5 million people have been displaced, and more than 20 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The Ambassador explained that the majority of those fleeing, especially women, young girls, and youth, are vulnerable to human trafficking. He emphasized that under the terrorist military council, the effective implementation of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons would be impossible. Only a legitimate civilian government, supported by the people and recognized by the international community, can fully carry out this noble responsibility. The Ambassador called for support in achieving these objectives in Myanmar, stressing the importance of addressing the root causes of these issues through the restoration of democratic governance.
