Although the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council has been addressing human rights violations towards ethnic minorities in Myanmar since March 2017 with the introduction of the Fact-Finding Mission[1] as a result of the continuous violent outbreaks that began in October 2016, violence towards ethnic minorities has thus far escalated.[2] The Secretary General of the UN has consistently condemned reports of violence in Myanmar and has tried to address the root causes of identity crisis which has been evident since the dispersal of the Second World War, whilst offering assistance to Bangladesh, who have been welcoming Muslims looking for a safe haven.[3]

Religious Groups and minorities including Muslims are subjected to violent acts of physical and psychological violence has been ongoing while the state is unable to stop the attacks, and in some cases, state intervention has exacerbated the dire humanitarian situation of the Muslim minority in Burma. Most notably, Wirathu, leader of the anti-Muslim Buddhist movement has encouraged the incitement of violence against Muslims whilst discredited the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, for not



[1] “Q&A: United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar.” Human Rights Watch, 2 Aug. 2017, www.hrw.org/news/2017/08/02/qa-united-nations-fact-finding-mission-myanmar.

[2] “Q&A: United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar.” Human Rights Watch, 2 Aug. 2017, www.hrw.org/news/2017/08/02/qa-united-nations-fact-finding-mission-myanmar.

[3] Dujarric, Stephanie. “Statement Attributed to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on Myanmar.” United Nations: Office of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Yangon, Republic of the Union in Myanmar, 28 Aug. 2017, mm.one.un.org/content/unct/myanmar/en/home/news/statement-attributable-to-the-spokesman-for-the-secretary-genera0.html.