Since the October 2012 Human Rights Dialogue between the United States and Myanmar,
DIILS has been invited to return to Myanmar three times for engagements on human rights
with the Tatmadaw, the military of Myanmar.  The DIILS teams has conducted roundtable
discussions with groups of officers there, including uniformed military lawyers and defense
educators, the goal of which is to sketch a broad overview of the underpinnings of a democratic
society.

In these roundtable discussions, the discourse has focused on the fundamentals required to
create a climate of increased accountability in the defense sector, including such topics as
civilian control of the military, the military justice system, the principles of command
responsibility and the role of the military lawyer in operations.  Over the course of these
bilateral exchanges, DIILS has also discussed international standards, including international
human rights law (cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment) and international humanitarian law
(law of armed conflict), as well as the rules of engagement and child-soldier laws, combating
human trafficking, and the need for transparency for military forces.

In turn, the Tatmadaw offered presentations on their defense legal structure and their military
justice system, including underpinning laws, their process for developing rules of engagement,
and their laws of military procedure.  Over time, it is hoped that these engagements will enhance
Tatmadaw efforts to implement increased military accountability and compliance with international
human rights norms.