KUALA LUMPUR (19 OCTOBER 2026) – The Governing Board of the South East Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF) resolved on 1 October 2026 to disqualify the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) from continued membership in SEANF, with effect from the same date. The resolution followed a formal review of MNHRC’s continued eligibility for membership, which commenced on 14 August 2026.
MNHRC was notified in writing on 1 September 2026 and afforded an opportunity to respond to the matters identified in the notice. It was also invited to the Governing Board meeting held on 1 October 2026 to consider the proposed resolution concerning its continued eligibility for membership. MNHRC responded through a letter dated 24 September 2026 and a press statement dated 26 September 2026, indicating that it rejected and disassociated itself from the review initiated by SEANF.
At its meeting on 1 October 2026, the Governing Board considered MNHRC’s responses and concluded that they did not satisfactorily address the matters identified in the written notice.
Accordingly, the Governing Board determined that MNHRC no longer satisfies the definition of a national human rights institution under amended Article 1 of the SEANF Rules of Procedure.[1] As such, the Board resolved to disqualify MNHRC from continued membership in SEANF.
MNHRC remains at liberty to reapply for SEANF membership once it can demonstrate discernible efforts towards compliance with the Paris Principles, as envisaged in Article 6, paragraph 3, of the SEANF Rules of Procedure.[2]
The resolution was adopted by consensus of the five participating Chairpersons, namely Chairperson of the Indonesia National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM), Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP), Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT) and Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice Provedor de Direitos Humanos e Justiça (PDHJ), Timor-Leste. The resolution took effect on 1 October 2026.
Consequently, MNHRC is ineligible to assume the rotating SEANF Chairpersonship in 2027 and, with effect from 1 October 2026, can no longer participate in the 23rd Annual Conference of SEANF 2026 or other SEANF meetings.
SEANF emphasises that the resolution was made in a fair, transparent and evidence-based manner, consistent with the SEANF Rules of Procedure and informed by the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) procedural best practices concerning proposed resolutions affecting a member’s standing.
As “A” status-accredited NHRIs, SEANF members have a collective responsibility to uphold the Forum’s credibility, integrity and accountability, and to promote and protect human rights across the region in accordance with the Paris Principles.
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[1] Amended Article 1 of the SEANF Rules of Procedure states, “NHRI refers to an independent national institution that complies with the Paris Principles and holds a constitutional and/or legislative mandate to promote and protect human rights.”
[2] Article 6, paragraph 3, of the SEANF Rules of Procedure states, “The applicant must manifest discernible efforts in the direction of compliance with the Paris Principles”.
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