"In 2011, after 50 years of military dictatorship and isolation, Myanmar?s military gov made way for a new, civilian one. The end of the military rule has not been due to the progressive work of pro-democracy forces or to the civil society but to the same military government which within one year decided for democracy. In 2011, Myanmar turning into a democracy was welcomed with enthusiasm and skepticism from the international community which, however, acknowledging the huge economic potential of the country hurried the lift of the sanctions that for fifty years had weighed on the country. Now after five years of transitional process and with the elections scheduled for November 2015, it is time to see where Myanmar is and where it is heading. Since Thein Sein took the leadership of the country, many political reforms have been initiated, political prisoners including the Peace Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi have been released, forced labour has been banned and new laws have been implementing human rights in the country. Alongside with the political ref orms, the new government has promoted the economic growth of the country, encouraging the investments of foreign countries...".....Written NGO statement to the 30th Session of UN Human Rights Council.