A Myanmar parliamentary delegation took part in the 2026 Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on February 12–13, engaging in high-level discussions on democracy, multilateralism, and global governance.
The delegation included Union Parliament representatives Daw Myat Thida Tun, Daw Mya Myo Aye, and Daw Phyu Phyu Lwin. The hearing was jointly organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations under the theme: “Parliaments and the UN: Better together, delivering for the people.”
The session opened with remarks from IPU President Tulia Ackson and President of the UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock. Parliamentarians from IPU member states attended the annual hearing, which serves as a platform for strengthening cooperation between national legislatures and the UN system.
Myanmar Highlights Gap Between Global Commitments and Ground Realities
On the first day, Daw Mya Myo Aye addressed the session titled “Translating global commitments into national realities.” She underscored the growing disconnect between international commitments and actual implementation.
She stated that violations of international law carried out with impunity have undermined confidence in multilateral institutions, both among member states and the populations they are mandated to protect.
Referring to Myanmar’s ongoing crisis following the 2021 military coup, she noted that more than 16 million people currently require humanitarian assistance, while nearly 4 million remain internally displaced. She emphasized that the UN’s proposed “Pact for the Future” must translate into tangible action rather than remain a symbolic declaration.
“Peace, development and human rights are indivisible,” she stressed, adding that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without civilian protection and adherence to the rule of law.
Call to Safeguard Democracy Amid Global Democratic Backsliding
On the second day, Daw Myat Thida Tun spoke during the session titled “Protecting democracy from within: Parliamentary safeguards, responsibilities and renewal in times of democratic erosion.”
She warned that democratic backsliding worldwide is accelerating and increasingly interconnected. While some nations face gradual institutional erosion, she described Myanmar’s experience as a “direct and violent assault” on democracy following the military takeover in 2021.
Despite the coup, she asserted that Myanmar’s parliament continues to function through adaptive mechanisms.
“Legitimacy is not based on buildings, but on the will of the people,” she said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining core parliamentary responsibilities—including oversight, budget scrutiny, and legislative functions—even under repression.
She further warned against what she described as the military’s attempt to stage a “sham election” to seek legitimacy while continuing widespread repression across the country.
“Democratic institutions cannot operate under electoral processes that exclude genuine representation,” she stated.
She concluded by cautioning that if those who seize power by force are treated as equals to democratically elected representatives, global democratic norms would be weakened.
The Myanmar delegation was accompanied by Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun, along with senior embassy officials.
