February 13, 2025
Myanmar’s forced military recruitment practices are worsening the country’s economic crisis, driving unemployment rates higher, and leaving citizens with reduced incomes, according to Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun.
Speaking on February 11 at the 63rd session of the Commission for Social Development in New York, the ambassador highlighted that forced recruitment by the military is a contributing factor to the economic downturn, leaving youth vulnerable and uncertain about their future.
He noted that unemployment in Myanmar has reached alarming levels, with three out of four households experiencing a significant decline in income. Furthermore, the ambassador pointed out that since the military’s illegal seizure of power, the junta has escalated violent attacks and crimes against innocent civilians. These include systematic human rights violations, targeting basic civilian infrastructure, such as schools and healthcare facilities, during military operations.
The ambassador further stated that Myanmar is currently facing unprecedented levels of human rights abuses and a severe economic collapse. As of today, around 20 million people are in need of humanitarian aid, over 3.5 million have been displaced, and poverty rates have reached their highest in 15 years, affecting nearly half of the population.
Additionally, 24 percent of the population is grappling with extreme food insecurity, while routine immunization programs for children have been disrupted, raising the risk of widespread outbreaks of infectious diseases.
