Myanmar is facing an unprecedented crisis as conflict deepens, with a UN report highlighting uncontrolled criminal networks and extensive human suffering. Julie Bishop, the UN Special Envoy for Myanmar, addressed the General Assembly’s human rights committee, calling for urgent action to end violence and transition beyond “zero-sum” perspectives.

Bishop described the ongoing conflict as having “severely undermined” Myanmar’s rule of law, with rampant arms production, human and drug trafficking, and organized crime spreading throughout the country. According to Bishop, Myanmar now leads in organized crime among UN member states, and criminal networks are “out of control.”

The crisis began in 2021, when Myanmar's military overthrew the elected government, spurring violent confrontations and ethnic groups gaining territory. The UN estimates that the turmoil has displaced over three million people and left nearly 18.6 million in need of aid.

Bishop, who has engaged with Myanmar’s leadership, including Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, as well as opposition and ethnic representatives, called on neighboring countries to help bring peace. She is set to visit India and Bangladesh in hopes of regional cooperation, underscoring that “reconciliation requires an end to violence, accountability, and full access for humanitarian agencies.”

“The Myanmar conflict risks becoming a forgotten crisis,” Bishop said, stressing the global implications of Myanmar’s situation.

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