Since 2021, PeaceNexus supported the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) and a coalition of Myanmar civil society organisations through a complaint process related to Telenor’s exit from Myanmar. The case was mediated by the Norwegian Contact Point (NCP) of the OECD and highlighted the critical importance of conflict-sensitive company disengagement.
Following the coup in 2021, the Myanmar civil society coalition complained that Telenor had not followed OECD policy in managing human rights risks in the process of selling Telenor operations and exiting the country, and that as a result the data was used in human rights violations by the military junta. Throughout the 4-year process, PeaceNexus worked closely with SOMO and the broad civil society coalition to gather and communicate evidence and develop common positions for the dialogues with the company.
The mediation concluded in December 2025 without a final agreement on remedy for the complainants. The NCP’s Final Statement found that Telenor had not carried out human rights due diligence in line with the OECD Guidelines and recommended that the company take an active role in remediation, including through continued engagement on a Myanmar digital security relief mechanism. The matter is now also being pursued through civil litigation related to alleged data sharing with the military junta and associated harms.
“While the mediation did not lead to a final agreement, the collaboration with PeaceNexus helped advance collective thinking on what meaningful remedy could look like in a high-risk context. Their support enabled continued and structured engagement and shared learning, including on the practical limits and opportunities of mediation in fragile settings.”
Joseph Wilde-Ramsing, Director of Advocacy, SOMO