And the World Watches On: The Inadequate Response to the Unfolding Crisis in Myanmar and Where to Go From Here

Authors

Marlene Pierce, FALSE

Abstract

In February of 2021, Myanmar’s burgeoning democracy was stifled when a military junta staged a coup and ousted the then recently elected government. Since the coup, the military junta has engaged in a campaign of terror that has resulted in displacement, famine, the loss of political freedoms, and near total disenfranchisement of the Rohingya people. These crises have been compounded by natural disasters that regularly plague the country, resulting in a dire situation for the citizens of Myanmar. With little hope for domestic remedies, the international community must intervene to stop the worsening humanitarian crises. This Article explores possible approaches rooted in international law to combat the situation in Myanmar. It explores solutions based on human rights treaties, the obligations the international community has under the Right to Protect, the need for increased humanitarian aid access, and the possibility of an ASEAN intervention. While the way forward may not yet be clear, one thing is certain: when it comes to Myanmar, the international community must act now.

Recommended Citation

Marlene Pierce, And the World Watches on: The Inadequate Response to the Unfolding Crisis in Myanmar and Where to Go from Here, 52 DENV. J. INT'l L. & POL'y 91 (Fall 2023).