Myanmar has seen significant political and economic change after a quasi-civilian government was introduced in 2010 and almost fifty years of military rule came to an official end. However, with the 2015 election approaching the reform process has regressed, and authorities are increasingly restricting and abusing fundamental rights to silence those who monitor and speak out against the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the military. Restrictions on freedom of religion and freedom of expression, association, and assembly persist. The government actively suppresses perceived dissent, and the space for human rights defenders to operate effectively and without fear of reprisal is diminishing. In Rakhine State, the Rohingya minority continues to face state-sponsored repression and suffer in dire conditions in IDP camps and other areas, which has given way to a regional refugee crisis. Despite a limited ceasefire agreement, ethnic conflict and violence continues in Kachin and Northern Shan, Karen, and Mon States. Parliament has adopted new legislation to restrict freedom of religion and entrench discrimination against the Muslim minority group
