A United Nations human rights expert has called on the United Kingdom Government to take a leading role in mobilising international opposition to Myanmar’s upcoming December election, warning that the ballot under military junta control risks being a vehicle for entrenching authoritarian rule rather than a genuine democratic process.

In a report released this week, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar urged London to work with other governments — particularly in Asia and beyond — to reject the election’s legitimacy and prevent the junta from using it to claim credibility.

The election, scheduled for late December, has been announced by Myanmar’s military authorities as a step towards political stability following the February 2021 coup that toppled the elected government.

However, the Special Rapporteur characterised the process as a “sham” designed to fabricate political legitimacy for the ruling junta, arguing that it is occurring amid pervasive violence, widespread insecurity and systematic repression of dissent that render free and fair participation impossible.

He highlighted that significant armed conflict persists across much of the country, which undermines basic freedoms and places civilians at risk if they attempt to vote.

In urging the UK Government to act, the expert noted that the United Nations Security Council’s response to the crisis has been insufficient and called for a stronger international stance against the election, including visible diplomatic pressure and clear statements of non-recognition.

He stressed that coordinated rejection by influential states could deny the military regime the opportunity to portray the vote as credible, and increase pressure for accountability and political dialogue.

The appeal forms part of broader international concern over the conduct and context of the vote, with other UN human rights officials warning that the election will likely deepen repression and instability rather than advance democratic governance.

Major opposition parties and civil society figures remain excluded or under threat, and conditions such as arbitrary detention, forced displacement and restrictions on free expression prevail across many regions.

Countries including Australia have already expressed grave concern about the process, and civil resistance within Myanmar continues through boycotts and protests highlighting the lack of authentic choice.

The Special Rapporteur’s comments underscore the geopolitical and human rights stakes of the forthcoming election and place emphasis on the role that like-minded states, including the United Kingdom, could play in shaping an international response that upholds democratic principles and the protection of civilians.