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Access to Justice Under Siege: The Evolution and Crisis of Legal Aid in Myanmar (2016-2025)

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This report examines Myanmar’s legal aid system from its establishment through the 2016 Legal Aid Law to the present crisis following the February 2021 military coup. The analysis reveals how Myanmar progressed from having minimal formal legal aid infrastructure to developing a comprehensive national system with government boards and civil society partnerships between 2016-2021. However, the military takeover systematically dismantled these institutions, forcing international organizations and courageous civil society groups to provide legal services under dangerous conditions. The report documents the collapse of government legal aid boards, restrictive amendments to legal aid legislation, mass arrests creating overwhelming demand for services, and the persistent barriers facing both legal aid providers and justice seekers. Despite severe repression, organizations continue delivering critical legal representation to thousands, including politically sensitive cases. The findings highlight both the fragility of legal aid systems under authoritarian rule and the extraordinary resilience of human rights defenders operating in crisis environments.