EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:"The right to a public hearing serves the interests of a defendant or the parties to a proceeding by promoting accountability and scrutiny of all actors involved in court processes. The right also serves the interests of the public at large, encouraging public understanding of the judicial system and helping to establish its legitimacy.The right to a public hearing is not absolute. International rights instruments recognise that, in some contexts, the right may be outweighed by the right to privacy or other concerns. While Myanmar law provides for the right to a public hearing, observations conducted by Justice Base reveal there are, in practice, substantial barriers to public access to both court premises and individual courtrooms in Yangon. Justice Base?s four observers spent one month observing 205 criminal and civil hearings in 119 courtrooms across 36 of Yangon?s 50 courts. During this time: ....."