In the resolution adopted on the 13th of June, the European Parliament (EP) condemns the persecution and violence targeting the Rohingya and other Muslim minorities perpetuated by or with the complicity of the Burmese authorities and calls for the establishment of an OHCHR office in the country and the revocation of discriminatory policies.
"Altsean-Burma, FIDH and other international NGO have extensively documented the violations of human rights occurring in Burma, as well as the persecution of Rohingya which has been described by UN Special Rapporteur Tomás Ojea Quintana, as being widespread and systematic, and perpetrated in total impunity. This welcome resolution sends a signal to the Burmese authorities that warming relations with the European Union are not a blank check to commit atrocities" said Debbie Stothard, FIDH Secretary-General and Altsean-Burma Coordinator.
The EP has called on European institutions, including the EEAS, Commission and HRVP Ashton to raise the issue at the highest level and has insisted on regular reassessments of the situation, to be based on precise benchmarks, to link trade preferences and the development of relations to actual progress.
"FIDH has consistently pressed European institutions to work together in order to ensure the convergence of all EU policies, including trade and investment, to benefit human rights" said Karim Lahidji, FIDH President. "This includes recommendations to conduct thorough and genuine human rights impacts assessments. So we welcome the strong call made to the Commission to assess in an effective and comprehensive manner the human rights impacts of the envisaged bilateral investment agreement by consulting closely with the European Parliament and civil society, ahead of formulating proposals for negotiating directives".
Read the full press release on the EP resolution condemning the persecution and violence targeting the Rohingya and other Muslim minorities
Read the resolution of 13 June 2013 on the situation of Rohingya Muslims