Myanmar’s growing civil disobedience movement has garnered global attention for its use of non-violent tactics to oppose the military’s February 2021 coup. Regardless of whether civil disobedience actions are considered unlawful under national law, many peaceful acts of civil resistance are protected under the international law of peaceful assembly, and expression. This ICNL analysis examines the international law of peaceful assembly, and expression protections for Myanmar’s civil disobedience movement to the 2021 military coup.

On February 1, 2021, the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) staged a coup, overthrowing the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, elected overwhelmingly by Myanmar citizens in the November 2020 elections. The military has since placed restrictions on civil society including a proposed draft cyber security law that threatens fundamental freedoms and violates international law. This ICNL analysis explores some of the key issues and concerns surrounding the draft law.