Background

Conflict-related insecurity and human rights violations continue to permeate the environment in which military-controlled electioneering and early voting are being conducted. With the first phase culminating on 28 December, the military continues to conduct offensives to regain territories -- slated for polls in either phase one or two of voting -- that persistently impact civilians. Fundamental civil and political rights are further undermined as the military instrumentalizes laws to criminalize dissent and severely restrict access to information. Civilians in military-controlled areas are facing persistent pressures to vote facing a combination of incentives and threats to ensure their participation. Military officials are conducting mandatory demonstrations of electronic voting machines, as well as telling voters that they will be able to get humanitarian aid or administrative services if they agree to vote. Groups targeted so far include students, many of whom are first-time voters, internally displaced persons (IDPs), political prisoners, and Myanmar nationals abroad. Building on its initial briefing paper of 28 November 2025,1 in this update the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) provides examples of human rights concerns that have arisen in the context of the military-controlled elections.