London, 28 April 2025 — The Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN) welcomes the European Union’s decision to extend targeted sanctions against Myanmar’s military junta and associated entities until April 2026 and urges further action to dismantle the junta’s sources of power and strengthen international accountability efforts.
The EU’s restrictive measures currently target 106 individuals and 22 entities responsible for grave human rights violations. Those listed are subject to asset freezes, bans on providing funds or economic resources, and travel prohibitions within the EU. In addition, the EU maintains an arms embargo, export restrictions on dual-use goods and communications surveillance equipment, and a ban on military cooperation with the Myanmar armed forces. EU financial assistance to the junta remains frozen.
“Renewing sanctions is necessary, but it’s only a first step,” said Kyaw Win, Executive Director of BHRN. “The junta’s grip on power is sustained by access to foreign revenues and international inaction. Myanmar’s people are risking everything to end military tyranny and build a democratic future. The EU must match their sacrifices with decisive action to cut the junta’s financial lifelines and deliver justice for atrocity crimes.”
Despite these measures, the human rights situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate. Since the February 2021 coup, Myanmar’s military has committed widespread and systematic abuses, including extrajudicial killings, indiscriminate airstrikes, forced displacement, arbitrary arrests, and persecution of ethnic and religious minorities. More than three million people have been displaced nationwide, and communities continue to face relentless attacks.
BHRN calls on the EU to strengthen enforcement of existing sanctions against Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) and expand targeted measures against all actors involved in the aviation fuel supply chain, which continues to enable junta airstrikes on civilian populations. The EU should also ensure that humanitarian aid bypasses junta-controlled mechanisms and is delivered through trusted ethnic and civil society organizations. Support for Myanmar’s locally led governance systems and institutions is critical to protecting civilian populations and building the foundations of an inclusive federal democracy.
BHRN urges the European Parliament to pass a new resolution on Myanmar that denounces the military junta’s plan for sham elections and reaffirms support for Myanmar’s legitimate democratic stakeholders, including the National Unity Government (NUG), ethnic resistance organizations (EROs), and civil society groups. The Parliament should press authoritarian regimes that continue to enable the junta’s crimes to withdraw their support and back the efforts of the Myanmar people to achieve genuine democracy and justice.
BHRN urges the European Parliament to increase support for justice and accountability efforts, including backing ongoing universal jurisdiction cases and reaffirming calls for a United Nations Security Council referral of the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court (ICC). While the ICC Prosecutor’s application for an arrest warrant for Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is a welcome step, broader accountability for international crimes committed across Myanmar remains critical to achieving lasting peace and justice.
The EU and its member states should urgently strengthen their response to Myanmar’s crisis, ensuring that their actions prioritize accountability, protection of civilians, and support for democratic governance led by the Myanmar people.
Organisation’s Background
BHRN is based in London and operates across Burma/Myanmar working for human rights, minority rights and religious freedom in the country. BHRN has played a crucial role in advocating for human rights and religious freedom with politicians and world leaders.
Media Enquiries
Please contact:
Kyaw Win
Executive Director
Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
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T: +44(0) 740 345 2378
Ye Min
Editor
Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
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T: +66(0) 994 942 358
BHRN's Press Release PDF File
