• UN report finds evidence of systematic torture by Myanmar security forces.
• Investigators identified senior military officials among perpetrators of torture.
• Torture included severe abuse, sometimes resulting in death.
• The Junta denies allegations, blaming opponents for unrest.
• UN budget cuts threaten future investigations into human rights abuses.

In a significant finding, United Nations investigators reported evidence of systematic torture being conducted by Myanmar's security forces. This information was compiled by the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), established in 2018 to address serious violations of international law. According to the report, victims endured various forms of torture, including beatings, electric shocks, and even strangulation. There were instances where children, often detained unlawfully to replace their missing parents, were also subjected to such inhumane treatment, leading to deaths in some cases, as noted by Nicholas Koumjian, head of the IIMM, in the report released on August 12, 2025, covering data up to June 30, 2025, according to Reuters, The Jakarta Post, and Al Jazeera.

The IIMM's findings were substantiated through over 1,300 sources, including eyewitness accounts and forensic evidence, highlighting the involvement of high-ranking military officials in these alleged abuses. The report’s emphasis on children's experiences reflects a particularly troubling aspect of the systematic torture within detention facilities, making the case even more alarming. Notably, the military government has dismissed these allegations, attributing unrest to "terrorists," without providing evidence or responding to requests for information from UN investigators, according to Reuters, The Jakarta Post, and Al Jazeera.

Furthermore, the report details that both the Myanmar security forces and opposition groups have been implicated in carrying out summary executions during the ongoing conflict, which has escalated since the military coup in 2021. The political upheaval has led to tens of thousands of detentions aimed at suppressing dissent. Last month, military chief Min Aung Hlaing declared the end of a four-year state of emergency and appointed himself as acting president, calling for upcoming elections, reflecting ongoing tensions within national governance, according to Reuters, The Jakarta Post, and Al Jazeera.

The IIMM has been active in investigating human rights violations since 2011, including addressing recent abuses against a variety of communities and the Rohingya minority. However, the report warns that UN budget cuts pose a serious threat to ongoing investigations and the Mechanism's overall ability to provide justice for victims of these atrocities, limiting its capability to sustain critical operations going forward, as per Reuters, The Jakarta Post, and Al Jazeera.