27 August 2025.
The Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD) has prepared a Note for IPCM Members on Free and Fair Elections, to help guide the independent Myanmar media, and especially members of the Independent Press Council of Myanmar (IPCM), on how to report objectively on the upcoming promised elections. The military regime currently running Myanmar announced earlier this month that the “first phase” of the upcoming elections will be held on 28 December 2025. CLD’s Note sets out in a simple format the key standards for free and fair elections, to support independent media wishing to report impartially on whether the Myanmar elections meet those standards.
“It is abundantly clear to independent observers that the basic conditions for free and fair elections – including respect for core freedoms, such as freedom of expression and of association – are not in place in Myanmar,” said Toby Mendel, Executive Director of CLD. “This Note is designed to help independent media outlets understand the core standards for free and fair elections so these outlets can report objectively and precisely on whether the electoral process meets those standards.”
The Note starts with a one and one-half page Overview of Key Standards, which is followed by an Introduction, setting out the key international law guarantees for free and fair elections, before elaborating more deeply on each of the key standards. The eight key standards are as follows: Respect for Fundamental Freedoms; Respect for the Results of Elections; Periodic Elections; Violence; Universal Suffrage; Secret Ballot; Independent Oversight; and Appeals. The Note elaborates on the content of each standard, but not on the extent to which they are currently being respecting in Myanmar. However, CLD has reported extensively on how the military regime is breaching international guarantees of fundamental freedoms; these reports are available on our Myanmar Resource Page.
While the Note is aimed primarily at independent Myanmar media, it should be a useful resource for any media outlets wishing to report on the rollout of the elections in Myanmar.
The Note is available here.
For further information, please contact:
Toby Mendel
Executive Director
Centre for Law and Democracy
Email: toby@law-democracy.org
+1 902 431-3686
www.law-democracy.org
X: @law_democracy
