"Summary: The situation in Myanmar (Burma) is grave. The Myanmar military, the Tatmadaw, is continuing its violent crackdown on protestors, which has led to hundreds of deaths and thousands of disappearances. A crisis of this scale requires swift, coordinated action, and the many thousands of people who have been displaced by the violence urgently require humanitarian assistance. The UK holds a number of unique roles and responsibilities which allow it to lead on preventing further violence and ensuring essential humanitarian support reaches those who need it. The Government has taken some strong measures in response to the coup and the violence, but there is much more that it can do. In this report we recommend a number of actions the UK Government should take to help reduce the violence against civilians. At a time when the Government is planning greater engagement with the Indo-Pacific, Myanmar presents a test of how effective our policy in the region can be. We recommend that the Government take further steps to secure a binding arms embargo on Myanmar, widen its sanctions approach to include a much broader range of people and organisations, provide humanitarian and logistical support to ethnic advocacy and media organisations, and take steps to ensure that those perpetrating these crimes will face justice in the future. Effective mediation in Myanmar requires concrete action. Failure to do so in the past has led to the crisis we see today. Failure to do so in the future will only lead to further violence, instability and loss of life.....Introduction: 1. In February 2021, the Myanmar military staged a coup which led to the deposition and detention of the country’s democratically elected representatives, and the military taking control of the country. The protests and violence that have followed the coup have led to hundreds of deaths, thousands of disappearances, and tens to hundreds of thousands of displaced people. Evidence from diaspora groups paints a harrowing picture: many speak of family members who have been unlawfully detained and many others who are beyond contact.1 2. The Tatmadaw2 staged this coup and declared a state of national emergency following their claims that the 2020 General Election was compromised by mass voter fraud. It has provided no evidence for these claims.3 The election has been found by international observers to “reflect the true will of the electorate”.4 3. While there has been much international condemnation of the coup and the military junta’s violence against protestors, there has been little substantial action taken. Months on from the coup, clear proof that the junta is committing serious crimes against the Myanmar people continues to surface regularly. Statements of condemnation have not and will not prevent these crimes—only clear action will. 4. The need for this action is urgent. Dr Sasa, the Minister for International Cooperation in the democratically elected National Unity Government (NUG), said: It is a pivotal movement in our history. The darkest hour in our history which was heading to the great civil war and genocide. Some 54 million brave people of Myanmar are facing the cruellest military junta.5 The UK has a unique role to play. As the United Nations Security Council ‘penholder’ on Myanmar, and as an accepted Dialogue Partner to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),6 there are several fronts on which the UK can exert further diplomatic influence. This crisis is also a major test of the effectiveness of the UK’s tilt to the IndoPacific region, as announced in the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.7 If the Government is serious about building its influence in the region it should show a willingness to take moral leadership and prevent further conflict and loss of life. This report sets out what more the UK Government could and should do..."