Pursuant to Sections 43 and 44 of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission Law, the Commission conducts inspections of prisons, labour camps, lock-ups, and care centres. An inspection team led by Commission Members U Than Win and U Htun Htun Win conducted inspection visits to the Elderly Day Care Centre and the Nay Pyi Taw Childcare Centre, which are under the supervision of the Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, located in Zabuthiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory, on 4 November 2026, and to the Nay Pyi Taw Jail on 5 November 2026.
During the inspection of the Elderly Day Care Centre, the inspection team examined various aspects of the services provided to the elderly persons accommodated at the centre, including the provision of basic healthcare and social services, the provision of food and nutrition supplements, access to clean drinking, water for domestic use, freedom of religion, opportunities for the elderly to share their knowledge and pursue their hobbies, and the arrangements for recreation and relaxation. The team also inspected the health and hygiene conditions of the dormitories, toilets, and kitchens, the accessibility of pension payments for eligible residents, and whether their rights under the Elderly People Law are being ensured. Additionally, the inspection team also warmly encouraged and exchanged words of goodwill with a total of 49 elderly persons receiving care at the Centre.
Subsequently, the inspection team examined at the Nay Pyi Taw Childcare Centre whether the 38 children under the care of the Centre were enjoying their rights as stipulated under the Child Rights Law, including the provision of healthcare services, regular medical check-ups, age-appropriate vaccinations, nutritional support, physical and psychological development and care, as well as the arrangements made for preschool and basic education.
During the inspection of the Nay Pyi Taw Jail, the team met prisoners in their dormitories and enquired into matters relating to their fundamental rights, including their living and dietary conditions; provision of healthcare services; transfers to external hospitals based on medical conditions; access to clean drinking water and water for domestic use; arrangements for family visits; the receipt of items issued by the prison and those sent by family members; the provision of physical exercise and sports activities for health and fitness; the right to practise religion in accordance with their faith; provision of basic literacy and numeracy education for illiterate male and female prisoners and detainees; and whether there were instances of human rights violations or torture by prison officials and fellow inmates. In addition, the inspection team conducted private and confidential interviews with 20 prisoners who requested to meet separately, and recorded their statements.
The inspection team also inspected the conditions of the dormitories for male and female prisoners and detainees, the dispensary, library, kitchen, food warehouse, water purifier, water storage tank for domestic use and the cleanliness of toilets; the situation of allowing family visits; and the conditions under which prisoners and detainees were having their lunch, as well as following up and checking the implementation of the previous recommendations made by the Commission. Afterwards, the Commission donated 50 knowledgeable books for prisoners to read and study.
The findings and recommendations from the inspection team’s visits will be sent to the relevant department for necessary action under the Commission Law. — MNHRC
