Press Release on Inspections of Prisons and Detention Centres by Myanmar National Human Rights Commission in 2021

The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) issued a press release on complaints submitted to the Commission and inspections of prisons and detention centres in 2021, on 8 February. The excerpts from the press release are as follows:

• The Commission received 277 complaint letters alleging human rights violations in 2021. With 31 remaining complaint letters from 2020, the Commission’s inspection team meeting examined 308 complaint letters in total.
• The most common types of complaints received by the Commission were land disputes (24.18%), police-related cases (5.41%), judicial cases (4.69%) and prison cases (4.33%), and Yangon Region accounted for the largest number of complaints at 30.68%, 14.44% from Bago Region, 10.83% from Mandalay Region and 10.1% from Sagaing Region.
• Regarding the complaints, the coordination notice has been sent to the relevant Union ministries, Union-level organizations, Nay Pyi Taw Council, Region and State governments for scrutiny. Then, the MNHRC received a total of 227 scrutiny letters in 2021 and has already informed to relevant complainants.
• The MNHRC inspected 10 prison cells, one detention centre, nine labour camps, 12 police custodies and three remand cells and checked on whether they were in line with the UN minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners, and whether the prisoners and detainees had humanitarian protection under the international and domestic human rights law.
• Regarding the inspection, the Commission submitted recommendations to the Ministry of Home Affairs for prison cells, provision of clean water, prison clinics and sanitation matters, access to family, access to health care services, prison library, food, and the right to vocational education.
• The Commission also allowed 90 prisoners (male and females) and detainees (males and females) who wanted to separately meet the inspection team, and their reports were recorded, and the findings and recommendations were coordinated with relevant departments.
• In 2021, the MNHRC inspected the Kyaikwaing Youth Training School and Girls’ Training School (Malikha) in Mayangon Township in Yangon, and Girl’s Training School in Htaukkyant in Mingaladon Township in accord with the provisions, rules and regulations of the Commission. Hence, the Commission submitted recommendations to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.
• During the inspection tour to prisons, work camps and youth training schools and schools for the disabled in 2021, the Commission donated 3,560 books and notebooks containing Myanmar translation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

As human rights abuses include violations of child rights, women rights, and the rights of persons with disabilities, if you experienced any of such violations, you can file a complaint.

• The Commission received 277 complaint letters alleging human rights violations in 2021. With 31 remaining complaint letters from 2020, the Commission’s inspection team meeting examined 308 complaint letters in total.
• The most common types of complaints received by the Commission were land disputes (24.18%), police-related cases (5.41%), judicial cases (4.69%) and prison cases (4.33%).
• The MNHRC inspected 10 prison cells, one detention centre, nine labour camps, 12 police custodies and three remand cells and checked on whether they were in line with the UN minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners, and whether the prisoners and detainees had humanitarian protection under the international and domestic human rights law.