Australia commends the work of the Special Rapporteur to highlight the human rights situation in Myanmar and supports calls to sustain pressure on the military regime.

Australia calls on the military regime to end the horrific violence against civilians, engage in dialogue, release those unjustly detained, including Australian Professor Sean Turnell, and allow unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance.

Australia remains committed to supporting the people of Myanmar as the number of those displaced, and in humanitarian need, continues to increase. Our development and humanitarian assistance supports the needs of the most poor and vulnerable in the country.

Australia supports international efforts for accountability and the de-escalation of violence, and urges the Myanmar regime to engage constructively with ASEAN and to fully implement its commitments under the Five-Point Consensus. We will continue to work closely with the UN, and ASEAN, to find options to de-escalate the crisis.

We thank the Special Rapporteur for his update on the role of civil society and democratic voices in Myanmar, and ask how best can we support these groups to help return Myanmar to the path of democracy?