Two days before the 46th ASEAN Summit began, civil society organizations in ASEAN held a parallel forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) acknowledges the adoption of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on an Extended and Expanded Ceasefire in Myanmar during the 46th ASEAN Summit (26-27 May 2025) as an important step toward the peace process. However, the statement notably lacks any enforceable mechanisms, independent monitoring provisions, and fails entirely to address accountability.

<p><a href="https://aseanmp.org/2021/10/26/parliamentarians-call-on-asean-to-take-concrete-steps-on-myanmar-at-summit-meet-with-nug/">Southeast Asian parliamentarians</a> call on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to use this week&rsquo;s ASEAN Summit to take concrete actions to resolve the disastrous situation in Myanmar, including by immediately engaging with the National Unity Government (NUG).</p>

<p>Amnesty International calls on ASEAN member states to&nbsp;prioritise protecting the human rights of people in Myanmar and prevent the situation deteriorating into a human rights and humanitarian crisis and to investigate&nbsp;Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on credible allegations of responsibility for crimes against humanity in Myanmar.</p>

<p>In conjunction the 36th ASEAN Summit, held virtually on 26 June, 45 civil society organizations issued a <a href="https://www.forum-asia.org/?p=32059#:~:text=26%20June%202020%2012%3A07,months%2C%20rights%20groups%20said%20today.">joint statement</a> condemning the increase in human rights violations by ASEAN member states during the Covid-19 pandemic, and also criticising the exclusion of civil society organisations from participating in the summit.</p>