The UN’s Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) has newly come across sexual violence, burning of sexual body parts and summary executions of captured combatants and civilians accused of spying in Myanmar.
In its report, the IIMM says it has made “important progress” documenting crimes. It is also identifying those responsible, including senior military commanders. The latest annual report covers the period from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. It draws on more than 1,300 sources.
Evidence includes nearly 600 eyewitness testimonies, photographs, videos, documents, maps, and forensic material linking perpetrators to widespread atrocities.
“Significant Evidence” of Systematic Torture
The IIMM detailed new findings of sexual violence, burning of sexual body parts, and summary executions of captured combatants and civilians accused of spying. “We have uncovered significant evidence, including eyewitness testimony, showing systematic torture in Myanmar detention facilities,” said IIMM Head Nicholas Koumjian.
He confirmed investigators have identified not only direct perpetrators but also commanders overseeing the facilities where the crimes occurred.
Airstrikes on Civilian Targets Under Investigation
The report outlines intensified investigations into aerial attacks on homes, schools, and hospitals — including incidents that followed the March 2025 earthquake.
These strikes, carried out during ongoing rescue operations, are now being examined alongside an analysis of Myanmar Air Force composition and its chain of command.
Expanding Probes in Rakhine State and Rohingya Cases
Investigators have opened new inquiries into atrocities in Rakhine State, where the military is fighting the ethnic armed Arakan Army.
This is in addition to ongoing investigations into crimes committed against the Rohingya in 2016 and 2017, which have already been described by UN officials as “ethnic cleansing.”
Building International Accountability
Evidence gathered by the IIMM has already been shared with the International Criminal Court (ICC), the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and Argentina’s judiciary.
It supported the ICC Prosecutor’s November 2024 request for an arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s military chief, and Argentine warrants issued in February 2025 against him and 24 others.
“Our report highlights a continued increase in the frequency and brutality of atrocities committed in Myanmar,” Koumjian said.
A Crisis Deepening on Multiple Fronts
Myanmar’s civil war began after the February 2021 military coup that ousted President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. The conflict has displaced millions, caused severe political and economic instability, and worsened humanitarian conditions nationwide.
The country also continues to grapple with the consequences of the 2017 Rohingya crackdown, which forced hundreds of thousands into refugee camps in Bangladesh.
UN Budget Cuts Threaten Investigations
The IIMM warns its work is being undermined by the UN’s liquidity crisis, with its 2025 budget reduced to just 73 percent of the approved amount. A further 20 percent cut to regular budget-funded staff is expected in 2026, forcing the mechanism to adopt a three-year Strategic Plan to maintain operational resilience.
Challenges include lack of direct access to witnesses inside Myanmar, high security risks, and ongoing cyber threats to sensitive case files. The IIMM says it is ready to assist any jurisdiction willing to prosecute Myanmar’s alleged war criminals, stressing that international cooperation is essential to ensure accountability for the country’s escalating atrocities.