Burma in Transition: Next Steps to Advance Religious Freedom and Improve Conditions for Religious Victims
Feb 27
Feb 27th 10:30am
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing
Burma in Transition: Next Steps to Advance Religious Freedom and Improve Conditions for Religious Victims
Thursday, February 27, 2025
10:30 AM-12 PM ET
Virtual
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) hosted a virtual hearing that discussed potential next steps to advance religious freedom in Burma and to improve conditions for religious victims amid that country’s ongoing civil war.
The Burmese military and its State Administration Council have targeted ethnic and religious minorities for more than two decades. USCIRF has consistently reported on the worsening religious freedom violations, including its attacks on hundreds of religious sites, leaders, and communities as well as its forcible conscription of ethno-religious minorities such as members of the Rohingya community. Burma has seen the displacement of over 3.4 million people, including Rohingya Muslims as well as Chin, Kachin, and Kayah Christians.
In its 2024 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Burma as a Country of Particular Concern, or CPC, for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). In October 2024, USCIRF released a country update to highlight military and political developments within Burma, attacks on religious communities, conditions for refugee populations who have fled the country, and the global response to this conflict.
Expert witnesses discussed the ongoing conflict’s disastrous impact on religious freedom, updates on refugee conditions, and U.S. foreign policy options to address this persistent and deeply challenging situation.
Opening Remarks
- Meir Soloveichik, Vice Chair, USCIRF
- Asif Mahmood, Commissioner, USCIRF
Written Remarks
Panel
- Kachin Christian Leader
Written Testimony - Yasmin Ullah, Founder/Executive Director, Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network
Written Testimony - Salai Za Uk Ling, Executive Director, Chin Human Rights Organization
Written Testimony - Jessica Olney, Non-resident Advisor on Burma and Bangladesh, Preventing and Ending Mass Atrocities (PAEMA)
Written Testimony
This hearing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. The video recording of the hearing will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions or to schedule an interview, please email [email protected].