[3][4] According to NHRC's former chairman Win Mra, the commission was formed under the Paris Principles, as an independent body, to investigate complaints of possible human rights violations.
[7] Its formation, which is not mandated by the constitution, has been a source of controversy, especially when it requested a share of the national budget (K 547,208,000) for 2012 to 2013, as the NHRC is not a Union-level body.
[8] Its predecessor, a human rights committee under the Ministry of Home Affairs, was formed on 26 April 2000.
In September 2016, the commission faced sustained criticism and questions regarding conduct of the commission arises when they brokered the compensation scheme to accept 5 million Kyat, approximately US$4,000, instead of pursuing legal action in the case of two girls tortured for 5 years as housemaids in Yangon.
[12] On 22 September, MP Pyone Cho from Dawbon Township submitted an urgent proposal to take action against the commission, and the Pyithu Hluttaw accepted to discuss further.