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Military leaders from around the world have written to the leadership of the army in Myanmar, calling on them to stop killing civilians and allow a return to democracy. The UN secretary general António Guterres, the US president Joe Biden and many others have condemned what’s happening there - and there is a chance for action, too with the UN Security Council discussing Myanmar on Wednesday.

But with China and Russia able to use their vetoes, can global leaders actually do anything beyond talk?

Tom Andrews is the United Nations’ rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar. He says he wants an emergency summit where committed countries can coordinate sanctions and legal action to stop the military's violence:

"Words of concern and condemnation are ringing hollow inside of Myanmar. They would much prefer those words to be backed up by action. They don't expect the world to come in and save them from this horrible nightmare but they do expect the world to stand up and join them."

(Photo: Burmese migrants hold pictures of Aung San Suu Kyi in Bangkok, Thailand. Credit: Reuters)

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