UN Human Rights Council – 47th session
Item 4: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar
7 July 2021
Madam President, Mister Special Rapporteur,
FIDH and its member organizations ALTSEAN-Burma and Women Peace Network welcome this oral progress report.
We are troubled by ongoing reports of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, sexual violence, torture, and prosecutions of human rights defenders, National League for Democracy members, and junta critics and opponents. It is even more troubling that women and children have continued to be deliberately targeted by the junta’s security forces.
Last week’s release of more than 2,000 prisoners charged under Article 505(a) of the Penal Code is welcome, but they shouldn’t have been detained in the first place. This cynical tactic to avoid criticism ahead of high-profile international meetings like this one does not negate the fact that scores of people have been charged with the capital offence of treason and 65 have been already sentenced to death. Several thousands more political prisoners remain behind bars and must be immediately released.
We welcome the National Unity Government’s public commitment to uphold human rights and establish accountability for abuses, including those committed against Rohingya and other ethnic groups. In light of this, we urge the NUG (National Unity Government) to review the recommendations made by UN member states during the Universal Periodic Review of Myanmar in January 2021 and to submit its response to these recommendations ahead of the next Human Rights Council’s session.
Thank you.