Across Myanmar on February 1, cities stood still as people stayed home as part of a silent strike to mark the 3rd anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar. The IUF stands resolutely with the people of Myanmar in their demand for the immediate restoration of democracy.
- To date 4,453 civilians, including 547 children, have been killed in the military junta’s brutal repression of the democracy movement. 25,915 people, including many trade union and labour activists, have been arrested for their involvement in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM); 19,977 remain in detention including 710 children
- More than 2.5 million civilians have been displaced due to artillery bombardment and aerial strikes, including hundreds of members of the IUF affiliate Agriculture and Farmers Federation of Myanmar (AFFM)
- On August 4, 2023, the International Labour Organisation published the findings of its Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Myanmar. The report is a damning condemnation of the military junta’s murderous rule and called on them to cease all forms of violence including gender-based violence, to release all imprisoned trade union leaders, to withdraw all criminal charges and to “immediately cease or reverse any measures or actions that violate Myanmar’s obligations under Conventions Nos 87 and 29, including military orders and other measures, and legislative amendments identified in the Commission’s findings as contrary to these Conventions.”
- The Council of Global Unions (CGU) has used the COI findings to challenge the EU to reevaluate its policies towards Myanmar, in particular the Everything But Arms (EBA) preferential trade policy, and support for the Multistakeholder Alliance for Decent Employment in the Myanmar Apparel Industry programme (MADE in Myanmar). Click here to read the CGU’s letter to EU leaders.
