Written statements on Myanmar by NGOs to regular sessions of the Human Rights Council
Websites/Multiple Documents
| Title: | | UN Human Rights Documents on Myanmar |
| Description/subject: | | List of UN Charter-based human rights documents on Burma/Myanmar |
| Language: | | Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish, |
| Source/publisher: | | United Nations |
| Format/size: | | html, pdf |
| Date of entry/update: | | 18 March 2009 |
|
Individual Documents
| Title: | | Human Rights Council must address dramatic deterioration of human rights situation in Myanmar - Amnesty International's written statement to the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council (26 February-23 March 2018) |
| Date of publication: | | 16 February 2018 |
| Description/subject: | | "The situation in Myanmar has deteriorated dramatically in the last year, and across the country the military has committed wide-ranging human rights violations. The severity of the situation cannot be understated. Myanmar today increasingly – and alarmingly – resembles the Myanmar of old. The civilian government, while holding no formal power over the military, has failed to curb the violence, and instead has often fostered rather than challenged impunity and discrimination. The country risks regressing still further unless there is a major change in course. This not only necessitates a fundamental change from Myanmar’s civilian and military authorities, but also much more effective action from the international community. At the upcoming session, the UN Human Rights Council must send a clear message to Myanmar’s leaders that human rights violations – both past and ongoing – will not go unpunished." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Amnesty International (ASA 16/7915/2018) |
| Format/size: | | html, pdf (200K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 |
| Date of entry/update: | | 16 February 2018 |
|
| Title: | | Human Rights Violation in Myanmar and the current situation of the Rohingya |
| Date of publication: | | 13 February 2018 |
| Description/subject: | | "Since late August 2017 more than 680, 000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar in an attempt to escape the human rights violation and brutality of the military. The UN itself called the recent developments a 'textbook example of ethnic cleansing'. It is not the first time the Muslim minority is under attack in the predominantly Buddhist state of Myanmar, previous waves of assault and expulsion can be found throughout the last century. But the atrocities of the last months exceed the previous extent by far and underline the urgent need for the international community to act on behalf of the Rohingya.
According to Doctors without Borders, alone in the first thirty days after the crackdown an estimate of 6, 700 Rohingya
were killed in the formally parliamentary democracy. As basis of legitimacy for the, in our eyes, disproportionate
military actions served an attack by Rohingya insurgents on security posts near Rathedaung township on 25th August
2017. Since that day, more than 350 villages, where mostly Rohingya lived, have been burned down, personal property
was destroyed, womenwere raped, men abused and children killed, forcing the residents to flee to the neighboring countries like Bangladesh, India, Thailand or Malaysia to escape the military violence in their home country Myanmar..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | The Society for Threatened Peoples (A /HRC/37/NGO/131) |
| Format/size: | | html,pdf (236K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 |
| Date of entry/update: | | 18 February 2018 |
|
| Title: | | The UN should act effectively to stop State-orchestrated genocidal violence against the Rohingya |
| Date of publication: | | 13 February 2018 |
| Description/subject: | | Written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre. MYANMAR:(A/HRC/37/NGO/82) ..."The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) and Odhikar draw the attention of the UN Human Rights Council. It is concerned about the current situation of the Rohingya Community in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. We seek immediate and effective action from the international human rights community. There is a need to protect the Rohingya people from further violence by Myanmar security forces. There is an undeniable need for and ensuring the safe return of the Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their original homes in Myanmar.
The Government of Myanmar has been systematically denying the Rohingya people’s fundamental rights in the Rakhine State1. The Rohingya people are not even considered citizens of Myanmar. The systematic process of persecution and eviction of Rohingyas from Myanmar is not new.2 The militarised Government of Myanmar and its civilian partners have deprived the Rohingya community for decades of their fundamental rights. The State authorities have evicted victims from their own land although historic records assert that the Rohingyas have been living there for hundreds of years..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Legal Resource Centre; ODHIKAR – Coalition for Human Rights, |
| Format/size: | | pdf (634K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 February 2018 |
|
| Title: | | Muslim Minorities in Myanmar, Saudi Arabia and the United States of America |
| Date of publication: | | 07 February 2018 |
| Description/subject: | | "Ethnic, linguistic, racial and religious minorities with different cultures, bring cultural and social diversity to every country. As a member of the international community, each country is obliged to observe the internationally accepted
principles on minorities rights.Article 20(19) of the Vienna Declaration (1993) on the rights of minorities and indigenous people, and the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities stresses on these rights. Article 27 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights states: “religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group,
to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language”. Article 2(1) of the
same Covenant also states: “Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” Article 1(3) of the UN Ch
arter stresses on “promoting and encouraging respect for
human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | the Organization for Defending Victims of Violence (A /HRC/37/NGO/ 26) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (101K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 February 2018 |
|
| Title: | | Situation of Freedom of Religion or Belief in Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 07 February 2018 |
| Description/subject: | | "Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) seeks to draw the Council’s attention to the situation of freedom of religion or
belief in Myanmar.CSW welcomes the continued efforts of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Myanmar, Yanghee Lee,and further welcomes the work of the Human Rights Council Independent International Fact-
Finding Mission since it began in March 2017. Its independence should be maintained, and it should be given adequate resources to carry out its mandate.
In 2015, the National League for Democracy (NLD) won the country’s first democratic elections in 25 years but
democratisation remains fragile, and there is evidence of significant regression in some areas, particularly freedom of
the press, freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief (FoRB)..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Christian Solidarity Worldwide (A /HRC/37/NGO/ 62) |
| Format/size: | | html, pdf (289K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 |
| Date of entry/update: | | 18 February 2018 |
|
| Title: | | Human rights violations against Rohingya Muslims |
| Date of publication: | | 06 February 2018 |
| Description/subject: | | "Racism and racial discrimination has always been one of the most important problems in human history and is a violation of the Universal statement of Human Rights (1948) which has
given all people equality and a life free from discrimination.
The Human rights declaration states that everyone has the right to life, liberty and personal security, no one can be
subjected to torture or capital punishment, everyone has the right to freedom of thought and religion, and everyone
has the right to freedom of expression and opinion.
Today, unfortunately, these minimum human rights are not respected by the Myanmar government, and Rohingya
Muslims face the strictest violations of their human rights
for being Muslim and for having different ideas to the
majority of people in that society which are the main reasons
for this treatment. Thousands have been killed, wounded
and displaced by the Myanmar Army's attacks on Muslims
and the situation of women and children is much worse. The
Myanmar army kills men and assaults women, many Muslims are forced to move from their country, which, according
to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is one of the fundamental and basic rights of humans living in their
homeland..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | The Family Health Association of Iran (A /HRC/37/NGO/ 47) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (46K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 February 2018 |
|
| Title: | | Interactive Dialogue with the High Commiss ionaire Human Rights Situation in Yemen, Myanmar and OPT (Occupied Palestinian Territories) |
| Date of publication: | | 01 February 2018 |
| Description/subject: | | "Myanmar atrocities continue unabated despite the serious concerns expressed by UN experts and State officials
condemning the crimes and the UN repeated calls on the government to end military operations. The catastrophic
displacement of 600,000 Muslim Rohingya, continuous killings of thousands of Rohingya 6 and other crimes including
rape, torture and arson reported by eye witnesses have forced huge numbers to flee to Bangladesh. Stressing the responsibility of Myanmar government to protect its population against mass killings; echoing the frequent calls of the United Nations especially the President of the Security Council 7; and expressing grave concerns over the persistent crimes against the Rohingya, ODVV calls on Myanmar government to:- Ensure the access for a U.N. fact-finding mission to the region. -End the atrocities and excessive use of military force against Rohingya in the country..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | The Organization for Defending Victims of Violence ( A /HRC/37/NGO/ 5) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (245K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 February 2018 |
|
| Title: | | Situation in Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 07 September 2015 |
| Description/subject: | | "In 2011, after 50 years of military dictatorship and isolation, Myanmar’s military gov made way for a new, civilian one.
The end of the military rule has not been due to the progressive work of pro-democracy forces or to the civil society but
to the same military government which within one year decided for democracy. In 2011, Myanmar turning into a
democracy was welcomed with enthusiasm and skepticism from the international community which, however,
acknowledging the huge economic potential of the country hurried the lift of the sanctions that for fifty years had
weighed on the country. Now after five years of transitional process and with the elections scheduled for November
2015, it is time to see where Myanmar is and where it is heading.
Since Thein Sein took the leadership of the country, many political reforms have been initiated, political prisoners
including the Peace Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi have been released, forced labour has been banned and new
laws have been implementing human rights in the country. Alongside with the political ref
orms,
the new government
has promoted
the economic growth of the country, encouraging the investments of foreign countries...".....Written NGO statement to the 30th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Society for Threatened Peoples via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/30/NGO/69) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (137K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 26 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Briefing on the situation in Arakan and developments in Naypyitaw |
| Date of publication: | | 04 September 2015 |
| Description/subject: | | "Amidst the political and humanitarian crises faced by Rohingya people in Arakan, a powerful tropical
cyclone had made its landfall in Arakan, setting off a new wave of humanitarian crises in several
townships in the Arakan state. On the political side, the date for the General Election in Myanmar is set
for 8 November, 2015. While the ruling military’s USDP-dominated Government continues to deny the
basic rights and citizenship of Rohingya and reject their ethnic identity, it has renewed its old strategy — reminiscent to what USDP did in the 2010 General Election — to secure the votes from Rohingya.
Simultaneously, the main opposition party of the Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for
Democracy, reportedly has also taken dramatic steps against Muslims in Myanmar. Currently, the
Rohingya are not in the voters’ list issued by the Government...".....Written NGO statements to the 29th Session of UN Human Rights Council." .....Written NGO statement to the 30th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Maarij Foundation for Peace and Development via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/30/NGO/60) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (255K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 15 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Statement on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 08 June 2015 |
| Description/subject: | | "Maarij Foundation for Peace and Development takes this opportunity of the twenty-ninth
session of the Human Rights Council to welcome the combined efforts of the Special
Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar and of the Special Envoy for
Myanmar. In its Resolution 28/9 (A/HRC/28/9)the Council expressed its deep concern
over the increase of nationalist-based intolerance towards religious and ethnic minorities.
The Council, alongside the international comm
unity, urged the Government of Myanmar to
publicly condemn such discourse and to take all necessary and appropriate action, in
conformity with its international human rights obligations, to combat violence...".....Written NGO statement to the 29th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Maarij Foundation for Peace and Development via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/29/NGO/72) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (115.75K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 15 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar: Extrajudicial killings continue with impunity |
| Date of publication: | | 05 June 2015 |
| Description/subject: | | "1.
The
Asian
Legal
Resource
Centre
(ALRC)
would
like
to
bring
the
realities
of
extrajudicial
killings
in
Myanmar
to
the
attention
of
the
United
Nations
Human
Rights
Council.
The
government’s
claim
that
the
State
is
in
a
democratic
reform
process
is
belied
by
the
prevailing
reality
of
extrajudicial
killings,
abuse
of
power,
and
impunity
in
Myanmar....
2.
The
Myanmar
semi-civilian
government,
which
came
to
power
after
decades
of
Military
rule,
has
failed
to
prosecute
extrajudicial
killers
who
committed
numerous
such
crimes
under
the
umbrella
of
the
Military;
and
it
continues
to
protect
perpetrators
of
more
recent
extrajudicial
killings.
The
military
in
Myanmar
has
long
enjoyed
impunity
for
offences
committed
against
civilians,
and
despite
recent
political
changes,
prosecutions
of
errant
soldiers
are
extremely
rare...
3.
The
ALRC,
along
with
its
sister
organization,
the
Asian
Human
Rights
Commission,
has
documented
numerous
cases
where
the
Myanmar
police
have
tortured
civilians
to
death
while
in
custody.
Mostly,
there
is
complete
impunity.
On
the
few
occasions
such
acts
are
“punished”,
the
cases
are
handled
under
the
Myanmar
Police
Force
Maintenance
of
Discipline
Law
and
not
under
criminal
law.
Furthermore,
Executive
intervention
at
all
levels
of
the
Judiciary
has
made
court
proceedings
a
time-consuming
masquerade
that
invariably
delivers
injustice.
The
ALRC
would
like
to
share
with
Council
the
following
recent
cases
of
extrajudicial
killings,
abuse
of
power,
and
impunity...".....Written NGO statement to the 29th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Legal Resource Centre via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/29/NGO/44) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (196K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 15 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Human Rights and religious freedom in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 27 February 2015 |
| Description/subject: | | "The Jubilee Campaign, together with Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), seeks to draw the Council’s attention to
the domestic human rights and religious freedom situation in
the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
In so doing, we
welcome the recent reports of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, applaud her
excellent work and that of her predecessor, and condemn recent appalling attacks by U Wira
thu and the Government of
the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on her integrity and good name...".....Written NGO statement to the 28th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Jubilee Campaign via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/28/NGO/128) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (187K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 15 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar: Human Rights Council must address the need for stronger safeguards to ensure business respects rights 1 |
| Date of publication: | | 27 February 2015 |
| Description/subject: | | Summary: "Foreign investment in Myanmar has been increasing since 2012, after political and economic reforms by the Myanmar
government led Western States to ease sanctions that had previously been imposed on the country. Such investment can
improve the lives of the people of Myanmar. However, Amnesty International and other civil society groups have major
concerns that basic legal safeguards are not yet in place to ensure that investment projects – especially large extractive
projects –
do not infringe on the human rights of persons living in communities in the vicinity.
Amnesty International has conducted a detailed investigation into illegality and related serious human rights abuses
linked to the Monywa copper mining project.2
These include forced evictions to make way for mining operations;
violent repression of protests by Myanmar authorities; and environmental impacts posing a threat
to local people’s
health and access to safe drinking water. The corporate actors involved, which include Canadian, Chinese, and
Myanmar companies, have profited from and in some cases colluded with the Myanmar authorities in these abuses –
yet
the governments of China, Canada and Myanmar have failed to carry out proper investigations and hold the companies
to account.
These concerns are not unique to the Monywa project. Amnesty International urges the Human Rights Council to
address corporate abuses in any
forthcoming resolution on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. The Government
of Myanmar should investigate and remedy past abuses at Monywa, and impose stronger legal safeguards to protect
people from corporate human rights abuses. The organisation
also calls for specific action by the home State
governments of companies involved in the Monywa project, and for all governments to require companies entering
Myanmar to carry out enhanced human rights due diligence...".....Written NGO statement to the 28th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Amnesty International via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/28/NGO/160) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (251.7K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 15 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar: Human rights reforms under threat |
| Date of publication: | | 27 February 2015 |
| Description/subject: | | "Myanmar’s backsliding on human rights reforms – only a few months before general elections –
underscores the
necessity for the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) to adopt a strong resolution on the situation of human rights on the
country and to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar...".....Written NGO statement to the 28th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Amnesty International via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/28/NGO/163) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (202K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check hear for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 15 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | The Human Rights Situation in Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 25 February 2015 |
| Description/subject: | | "1. Human Rights Now (HRN), a Tokyo-
based international human rights organization, welcomes positive human rights
developments in Myanmar in 2014, such as the recent attempts by the Myanmar government to increase its cooperation
with the international community.
It is particularly commendable that the government intensified its cooperation with
the International Labour Organization (ILO) to end forced and child labour, and that the government ratified ILO
Convention 182
and signed the
Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. However, several
human rights violations continued to be reported throughout 2014...".....Written NGO statement to the 28th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Human Rights Now via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/28/NGO/118) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (242.5K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check hear for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 15 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Human rights situation of the Rohingya in Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 24 February 2015 |
| Description/subject: | | Written statement
submitted by
the
Society for Threatened
Peoples, a non
-
governmental organization in special
consultative status...."Currently, the Myanmar parliament is debating a controversial legislative package called the “Laws on Protection of
Race and Religion” which includes the Religion Conv
ersion Bill, Interfaith Marriage Bill, Population Control Bill, and
the Monogamy Bill. The legislation has been proposed by an extremist Buddhist organization called the Association for
the Protection of Race and Religion, which is connected to the nationa
list Buddhist monk Wirathu and the 969
Movement.
This group of bills is not only violating human rights in several ways but it is also endangering the peace and unity of
the country.
The Religion Conversion Bill includes restrictions on converting to an
other religion especially for those who are
wishing to convert from Theravada Buddhism to a minority religion or to atheism. The bill set out a process for
applying for official permission to convert from one religion to another, giving Township
-
level offi
cial from various
government departments the power to determine whether an applicant has exercised free will in choosing to change
religion. Penalties up to two years are foreseen for those who are found to be applying for conversion “with the intent of
in
sulting or destroying a religion” or “undue influence or pressure...".....Written NGO statement to the 28th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Society for Threatened Peoples via United Nations (A/HRC/28/NGO/66) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (181K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check hear for new documents)
http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G15/034/59/PDF/G1503459.pdf?OpenElement |
| Date of entry/update: | | 11 March 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Rohingya, the story of a people without a homeland* |
| Date of publication: | | 25 August 2014 |
| Description/subject: | | "The Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar have continued to suffer from human rights violations under the Burmese junta
since 1970s. Over the years thousands of Rohingya refugees have fled to neighbouring countries like Thailand,
Indonesia and Bangladesh etc. Even as refugees they have been facing hardships and have suffered persecution by the
Thai government.
The Burmese Military Forces., waiting to use even the most insignificant occurrence as an excuse to perpetrate violence
on Burmese Muslims. At any time, if there's some ethnic disturbance between Muslims and Buddhists/Hindus in any
other country, the Burmese Military Forces waste no time going on a murderous spry killing the Muslim minority in
Myanmar. If there is the slightest of trouble between Muslims and non-Muslims in Indonesia, it's taken as a pretext to
kill Muslims in Myanmar by Buddhist mobs. The destruction of the statues in Bamiyan (Afghanistan), created an
immediate excuse to commit violence against Muslims in Myanmar in 2001. The firebrand Buddhist monks demanded
a Muslim masjid to be destroyed in retaliation. Mobs of Buddhists led by monks, vandalized Muslim-owned businesses
and property in Myanmar, and attacked and killed Muslims in Muslim communities.".....Written NGO statement to the 27th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Maarij Foundation for Peace and Development via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/27/NGO/5) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (33K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 17 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Situation of the internally displaced Rohingya in Myanmar (written statement) |
| Date of publication: | | 26 May 2014 |
| Description/subject: | | "Society for Threatened Peoples is deeply concerned by
the human rights and humanitarian situation of stateless
Rohingya in Arakan/Rakhine State, Myanmar and in the neighboring countries.
Since June 2012 systematic and pre-planned anti-Muslim attacks have left more than 145,000 Rohingya in camps for
internally displaced people (IDPs) and have produced over a million Rohingya refugees.
The anti-Islamic rhetoric led by the infamously well-known monk Wirathu and the Buddhist nationalist 969 Movement
is fueling religious hatred all over the country. The government of Myanmar, despite the pressure from the international
community, not only has done little to ensure and protect the basic rights of the Rohingya religious minority but it is
also protecting Wirathu and the 969 Movement.
In January, the humanitarian situation in Arakan/Rakhine and the plight of the Rohingya got worse. Du Char Yar Tan a
village in Arakan/Rakhine State was attacked and looted by an extremist Buddhist mob. 48 Rohingya were killed and
many others injured. The international NGO and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Doctors without Borders (MSF) reported
that 22 patients were treated near Du Char Yar Tan village for severe injuries. Despite UN allegations about the incident
and international pressure advocating a fair and impartial investigation, the Myanmar government refused to allow for
one and proceeded with an internal investigation...".....Written NGO statement to the 26th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Society for Threatened Peoples (A /HRC/26/NGO/59) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (40K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 24 July 2014 |
|
| Title: | | Human Rights Situation in Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 04 March 2014 |
| Description/subject: | | Human Rights Now (HRN)
welcomes the improvement of human rights situation in Myanmar after the long
military regime in Myanmar officially ended in 2011. However, issues and concerns regarding human rights violations
continued to be reported. HRN is especially concerned ov
er the situation surrounding of ethnic violence and press
freedom. It also concerns that the foreign investments and
development projects cause negative impact of human rights
situation of local people.
The first imprisonment of a reporter since the lifting of media restrictions in 2012 has raised questions about press
and media law and censorship issue in Myanmar. On November 2013, three-month prison term was given to Yangon-
based Eleven Media journalist Naw Khine Khine Aye Cho, also known as Ma Khine, based on charges of defamation,
trespass and use of abusive language.
International press organizations have argued that the charges are unjustified and too harsh.
For example, Reporters
Without Borders issued a statement that urged the court “to reexamine the facts of this case when it comes up for appeal
and to reach a decision that respects the rights of journalists.”
Ma Khine is believed to be the first journalist sentenced
to prison under censorship laws since President Sein began his administration...".....Written NGO statement to the 25th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Human Rights Now (A/HRC/25/NGO/126) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (48K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 24 July 2014 |
|
| Title: | | Situation of the Rohingya in Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 04 March 2014 |
| Description/subject: | | "At the time when Myanmar is coming out from fifty years of isolation and military rule, the rise of anti-Muslim
ideology and violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority
is threatening to derail the democratization process and
the stability of the same country.
Society for threatened Peoples is deeply concerned about the treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar’s
internally displaced camps and about the rise and spread of
religious hatred feelings across the country. So far, the
government of Myanmar has turned a blind eye on the plight of the Rohingya and rather than intervene and foster a
reconciliation process between Buddhists and Muslims it has tolerated and encouraged discrimination and religious
fundamentalism...".....Written NGO statement to the 25th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Society for Threatened Peoples via United Nations (A/HRC/25/NGO/153) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (39K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 18 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Situation of the Rohingya in Myanmar (written statement) |
| Date of publication: | | 04 March 2014 |
| Description/subject: | | "At the time when Myanmar is coming out from fifty years of isolation and military rule, the rise of anti-Muslim
ideology and violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority
is threatening to derail the democratization process and
the stability of the same country.
Society for threatened Peoples is deeply concerned about the treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar’s
internally displaced camps and about the rise and spread of
religious hatred feelings across the country. So far, the
government of Myanmar has turned a blind eye on the plight of the Rohingya and rather than intervene and foster a
reconciliation process between Buddhists and Muslims it has tolerated and encouraged discrimination and religious
fundamentalism.
In Myanmar, the 969 Movement led by the nationalist monk U. Wirathu is playing a major role in inciting hate and
widespread Buddhist anxieties about Muslims, who only make up for 4 per cent of the country's population. Wirathu
and the 969 Movement are inciting violence not only with fiery sermons but also by using a systematically discriminate
against Muslims: stickers with the 969 logo are worn by supporters or posted on Buddhist-owned shops to encourage
Buddhists to conduct business only with other Buddhists. Audio recordings with the voice of Wirathu are played in
restaurant and shops all across the country and social media such as facebook and twitter are used to spread hate
rhetoric worldwide. Those who buy, speak, befriend or love a Muslim are condemned by the 969 Movement for not
having defended their religion against the “imminent” Muslim invasion. The 969 Movement respects the teaching of
“ahimsa”, non violence, but believes also that brutality against Muslim people is an act of self-defense and, if it is
perpetrated with the pure thoughts of defending Buddhism, helps people to gain karmic merit...".....Written NGO statement to the 25th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Society for Threatened Peoples (A /HRC/25/NGO/15) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (39K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 24 July 2014 |
|
| Title: | | Treatment of ethnic nationalities in Myanmar (written statement) |
| Date of publication: | | 04 March 2014 |
| Description/subject: | | "...We have submitted written statements and made oral ones at many
sessions and have been twice invited by the United States Congress to present testimony at hearings. Mouvement contre
le racisme et pour l’amitié entre les peuples (MRAP) has also monitored the situation in Myanmar for many years and
joins this statement.
Last August, IED and AHL called attention to the escalating violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar in a
written statement (A/HRC/24/NGO/92) to this body. The intervening months demonstrated the alarming endurance of
that disturbing ethnic persecution, with the displacement, b
eating, or slaughter of yet more innocents at the hands of
predominantly Buddhist mobs. The death count still rising, the international community has shamefully taken little
action to pressure the much-trumpeted “democratic” government of Myanmar into getting a grip on this out of control
mob-rule. Indeed, the government of Myanmar has openly denied that the violence is even occurring.
According to a UN report, on January 9th,
eight Rohingya men were killed in the Du Chee Yar Tan village. After a
police sergeant was killed in the intervening days, on January 13th, a violent Buddhist mob vengefully slaughtered forty
Rohingya men, women, and children.
We thank the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay for her strong words on the massacre: “I deplore the
loss of life in Du Chee Yar Tan and call on the authorities to carry out a full, prompt and impartial investigation and
ensure that victims and their families receive justice... By responding to these incidents quickly and decisively, the
Government has an opportunity to show transparency and
accountability, which will strengthen democracy and the rule
of law in Myanmar..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | IED & MRAP (A/HRC/25/NGO/135 ) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (44K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 24 July 2014 |
|
| Title: | | The human rights situation in Myanmar and crimes against the Rohingya minority |
| Date of publication: | | 10 September 2013 |
| Description/subject: | | "...Myanmar’s 1982 Citizenship Law has also been widely
criticized for discriminating against
unlisted minority groups, including the Rohingya. S
ome 800,000 Rohingya have been left
stateless and increasingly vulnerable to a range of
human rights violations.
“Institutional reforms also involve providing human
rights training for military, security
and police personnel, including with regard to appr
opriate use of force in dealing with
peaceful protests,” the High Commissioner said, urg
ing a full investigation into the
shooting dead of three Rohingya women earlier this
month. The women were killed as they
took part in a peaceful demonstration in Rakhine St
ate, when police allegedly fired into a
crowd of demonstrators in Pa Rein village, Mrauk-U
Township..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Maarij Foundation for Peace and Development (A /HRC/24/NGO/126) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (46K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 24 July 2014 |
|
| Title: | | Treatment of ethnic nationalities in Myanmar * |
| Date of publication: | | 06 September 2013 |
| Description/subject: | | "International Educational Development, Inc. (IED) and the Association of Humanitarian
Lawyers (AHL) have monitored the situation in Myanm
ar for 23 years.1
We have submitted
written statements and made oral ones at many sessions and have been twice invited by the
United States Congress to present testimony at hearings.
In our statement for the UN Human Rights Council’s
22nd
session, we called attention to
the ethnic conflict between the national government
and the Kachin Independence Army
(KIA) which had extended well beyond the time of the national government’s assurances to
the international community that a lasting peace was a priority and surely well at hand. In
spite of a visible peace agreement between the gove
rnment and the KIA in late May, in
recent days alleged government-backed militias have
attacked KIA installations. According
to
The Irrawaddy, a government-backed militia called the Kachin Bor
der Guard Force
attacked Kachin bases in two towns in the Pangwa region.2
San Aung of the KIA noted,
“The Kachin BGF is a militia that is controlled by
the government’s armed forces. They
have to listen to orders from the government’s force. We think without support from the
government’s armed forces, they would not have dare
d to fight the KIA...".....Written NGO statement to the 24th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | International Educational Development via UN Human Rights Council (A /HRC/24/NGO/92) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (48K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 18 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Situation of the Rohingya people and other minorities in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 24 May 2013 |
| Description/subject: | | "Society for Threatened Peoples expresses its concern regarding the situation of the
Rohingya people and other Muslim minorities in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
After decades of discriminations, the Rohingyas have been subject to unacceptable
persecutions since June 2012. The latest unrests showed that ethnic violence is turning into
anti-Muslim violence, targeting Muslims not only in western Rakhine State, but also in
central and southern Myanmar. Along with anti-Muslim hostilities, confrontations are still
going on in the Kachin state and the Shan state...".....Written NGO statement to the 23th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Society for Threatened Peoples via United Nations (A/HRC/23/NGO/82) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (36K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar: Official report on Rakhine State conflict gravely flawed |
| Date of publication: | | 17 May 2013 |
| Description/subject: | | "Following the communal violence that wracked the
western parts of Myanmar near
the border of Bangladesh in 2012, the country’s president established a commission of
inquiry comprising of retired public servants, religious figures, politicians, academics and
members of civil society. The commission handed down its findings on 22 April 2013.
Despite high expectations, the 119-page report is gravely flawed. Although it contains a
few useful recommendations and observations, to which the Special Rapporteur on human
rights in Myanmar alluded in a press release of 1 M
ay 2013, the commission’s positive
contributions are outweighed by a range of omission
s and misrepresentations and by an us-
versus-them mentality that pervades the document...".....Written NGO statement to the 23th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Legal Resource Centre via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/23/NGO/41) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (53K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar: Police who attacked peaceful protestors must be prosecuted |
| Date of publication: | | 17 May 2013 |
| Description/subject: | | " The struggle of farmers and their allies in the
Letpadaung Hills of central Myanmar
against the expansion of a copper mining operation
under a military-owned holding
company and a partner company from China obtained international attention when in the
early morning hours of 29 November 2012 paramilitary police launched a night time attack
on encamped protestors. The attack received interna
tional media coverage because the
police fired white phosphorous into the protest cam
ps that caused extensive burns to
protestors, the majority of them Buddhist monks who
had joined villagers in resistance to
the mine project...".....Written NGO statement to the 23th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Legal Resource Centre via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/23/NGO/40) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (51K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | The human rights situation in Myanmar and crimes against Rohingya people |
| Date of publication: | | 16 May 2013 |
| Description/subject: | | "Human rights in Myanmar under its military government have long been regarded as
among the worst in the world. International human rights organizations including Human
Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the American Association for the Advancement
of Science have repeatedly documented and condemned widespread human rights
violations in Myanmar. The Freedom in the World 2011 report by Freedom House notes
that "The military junta has... suppressed nearly all basic rights; and committed human
rights abuses with impunity...".....Written NGO statement to the 23th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Maarij Foundation for Peace and Development via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/23/NGO/10) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (79K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Statement on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 27 April 2013 |
| Description/subject: | | "Today the world of Islam is faced with a huge volume of opposition against Islamic culture
and beliefs, which has become known as Islamophobia.
Islamophobia in today's world is not necessarily is
not a phenomenon associated to the
subject of religion, but on the contrary it’s a pur
poseful attack against human rights and
peace. Our evidence is the purposeful and organized
incitements, destruction of religious
sites, and killing of Muslims around the world thro
ugh different means which is with the
aim of forcing the reaction of Muslim extremists and therefore to conclude that it’s an
apparent religious war. The recent tragedies in Mya
nmar, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan and Bahrain
are some examples of the above which show the conce
pts of Islamophobia in its worst
forms..."...Written NGO statement to the 23th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Organization for Defending Victims of Violence (ODVV) via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/23/NGO/100) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (41K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 18 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Situation of Rohingya and Kachin in Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 22 February 2013 |
| Description/subject: | | "The controversial Citizenship Law of 1982 continues to deny the 800,000 Rohingyas
recognition as equal citizens. They suffer from discrimination by state agencies, restrictions
on movement, land confiscations, forced labor, marriage; they are only allowed to have
marry and have children by asking the authorities. They are denied birth certificates, suffer
from illegal taxation and lack adequate medical coverage. In June 2012 violence escalated
be
tween the Muslim Rohingya and Buddhist Rakhine after a young Buddhist was killed by
Muslims on 28 May 2012 and ten Mulim pilgrims were killed by Rakhine as a vengeance
on 3 June 2012...".....Written NGO statement to the 22th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Society for Threatened Peoples via United Nations (A/HRC/22/NGO/148) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (166K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar: Serious human rights challenges require the sustained attention of the Human Rights Council |
| Date of publication: | | 20 February 2013 |
| Description/subject: | | "The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), in association
with Human Rights Education Institute of Burma (HREIB), Burma Partnership, and the
Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma), urges the United Nations
Human Rights Council to remain seized of the serious and on-going human rights abuses
occurring in Myanmar. In the past two years, the Myanmar government has undertaken
several important steps towards democratic reforms, however, serious human rights
violations have continued to take place in an environment of impunity where the rule of law
and an independent and impartial justice system are still largely absent. Most pre-existing
repressive legislations remain in place with several new laws providing a justification for
more restrictions...".....Written NGO statement to the 22th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/22/NGO/133) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (190K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Rohingya : The story of a people without a homeland |
| Date of publication: | | 14 February 2013 |
| Description/subject: | | "The Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar have continued to suffer from human rights violations
under the Burmese junta since 1970s. Over the years thousands of Rohingya refugees have
fled to neighbouring countries like Thailand, Indonesia and Bangladesh etc. Even as
refugees they have been facing hardships and have suffered persecution by the Thai
government. In February 2009, a group of 5 boats packed with Burmese Rohingya Muslims
were taken out and abandoned in the open sea by the Thai army. Four of these boats sank in
a storm and one was washed ashore near the Indonesian islands. The few survivors who
were rescued by Indonesian authorities told horrific stories of being captured and beaten by
the Thai military and then abandoned at open sea...".....Written NGO statement to the 22th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Maarij Foundation for Peace and Development via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/22/NGO/48) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (75K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Treatment of ethnic nationalities in Myanmar * |
| Date of publication: | | 14 February 2013 |
| Description/subject: | | "International Educational Development, Inc. (IED) and the Association of Humanitarian
Lawyers (AHL) have monitored the situation in Myanmar for 23 years.1
We have submitted
written statements and made oral ones at many sessions and have been twice invited by the
United States Congress to present testimony at hearings.
The past year has been transformative for Myanmar. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, democratic
champion of the ethnic Burmese, was elected to the parliament, an event symbolic of the
significant democratic gains in the structure of the government of Myanmar. The National
League for Democracy (NLD) is now the leading opposition party within the government,
and while the Union Solidarity and Development Party still hold an illegitimately inflated
representative majority in the parliament, the mere fact that the NLD has gained such a
significant foothold is a positive sign of democratization...".....Written NGO statement to the 22th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | International Educational Development, Inc. via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/22/NGO/60) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (179K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar: Savage torture in ordinary criminal cases |
| Date of publication: | | 13 February 2013 |
| Description/subject: | | "One misconception about the use of torture in Myanmar is that it has been a form of
human rights abuse most commonly associated with the cases of political prisoners, and
therefore in the current period we should expect the incidence of torture to diminish as
political conditions change. This misconception is in part because of the heavy
concentration of human rights documentation on Myanmar over the years on political
detainees, to the omission of ordinary criminal detainees. However, the Asian Legal
Resource Centre has long brought to the attention of the Human Rights Council and its
predecessor that torture in Myanmar is not confined to any particular type of case but rather
is systemic and ongoing. Furthermore, the types of torture practiced in ordinary criminal
cases in Myanmar are not mere slapping and beating, which people in the country take for
granted when they are detained by police or ot
her officials, but are also extremely savage
and highly professional..."......Written NGO statement to the 22th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Legal Resource Centre via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/22/NGO/41) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (61K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 20 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar: Targeting and torturing public enemies through the unlawful associations act in Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 13 February 2013 |
| Description/subject: | | "In January 2013, the Asian Legal Resource Centre released a special dossier of 36
cases brought by personnel of the Myanmar armed forces and police under the 1908
Unlawful Associations Act, against people accused of contact with the Kachin
Independence Army, which since 2011 has resumed armed combat with government forces
in the north of the country. The cases were researched and compiled in 2012 by
independent human rights defenders in Myanmar. Most of the contents of the dossier are
testimonies of persons affected by the use of the Unlawful Associations Act, especially the
mothers and wives of detainees. This submission begins with some of their testimonies,
followed by the ALRC's analysis...".....Written NGO statement to the 22th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Legal Resource Centre via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/22/NGO/42) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (89K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new document) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 20 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar: The death of Phyo Wai Aung: Myanmar's brutal institutions claim another victim |
| Date of publication: | | 13 February 2013 |
| Description/subject: | | "1. At the twentieth session of the Human Rights Council, the Asian Legal Resource
Centre (ALRC) drew the attention of delegates—not for the first time—to the case of Phyo
Wai Aung, a young man falsely convicted of involvement in a bombing attack during 2010
that killed 10 people and injured scores. The ALRC made a special appeal for the release of
Phyo Wai Aung on grounds of ill health to which the Centre and other human rights
defenders had been pointing for the last couple of years. For want of medical treatment and
due to torture and other forms of systemic abuse while in custody, cancer was spreading
throughout the young man's body. The Government of Myanmar had hitherto ignored these
requests. With the concerted effort of concerned persons and groups at home and abroad,
including the joint intervention of the Special Rapporteurs on human rights in Myanmar, on
the independence of judges and lawyers, and on the right to health, the President of
Myanmar on 3 August 2012 issued a clemency order releasing Phyo Wai Aung from
custody. The young man was reunited with his family; however, he spent most of his last
days in hospital, where the treatment for his condition came too little, too late. When
directors of the ALRC visited him in December, he was paralysed from the waist down,
since the cancer had spread to his spinal cord. Although he was still optimistic for the
future, he passed away on 4 January 2013...".....Written NGO statement to the 22th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Legal Resource Centre via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/22/NGO/43) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (157K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Dismal human rights situation of Rohingya in Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 07 September 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "Despite all the applause for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi‟s recent trip to Europe and the reforms
of the incumbent president of Myanmar, U Thein Sein, the situation of the systematically
persecuted Muslim minority of the Rohingya remains grave.
In the recent outbreaks of violence in May/June 2012, following the rape -murder of the
Buddhist woman Thidar Htwe on May 28th 2012, at least 62 persons have been killed,
leaving 32,000 people displaced and arou nd 100,000 have tried to flee the violent conflict
between the Buddhist Rakhine and the Muslim Rohingya. There are numerous claims and
reports of Rohingya being killed, tortured and raped, and their property looted by the
security forces and the Buddhist citizens that has resulted in around 600 deaths, which
could not be verified due to the absence of an independent media. However, this tragedy is
not an isolated case but just the tip of the iceberg that constitutes a much deeper problem:
the ongoing, decade-old persecution and discrimination of the Rohingya and the deeply
rooted racism in the Burmese society...".....Written NGO statement to the 21th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Society for Threatened Peoples via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/21/NGO/97) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (172K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 20 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Slaughter of Muslims in Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 04 September 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "In June 2012, hundreds Burmese Muslims have been butchered, and many more injured and
made homeless in Myanmar as a result religious intolerance by the Buddhist majority. The
military government, far from trying to resolve the problem and protect the minority, has
been silently conniving with the rioters by creating greater hardships for the Muslim
minority.
The reason of this June 2012 riot is unknown except for the periodical outbursts of the
Myanmar Military Forces to show their might and vent their anger on the helpless minority.
It is commonly accepted that the June 2012 massacre of Burmese Muslims was
intentionally orchestrated by the rioters in collaboration with the government. Yet the
world, including the UN, is conveniently silent. Aung San Suu Kyi, is very prompt at
accusing the Myanmar military of human rights violations when she is under house arrest.
But she finds nothing wrong when the military helps the Buddhist mobs to murder the
in
nocent Muslim minority of her country...".....Written NGO statement to the 21th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Maarij Foundation for Peace and Development via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/21/NGO/03) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (164K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 20 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Grave situation of Rohingya in Rakhine State, Myanmar and Bangladesh's refoulement of refugees ** |
| Date of publication: | | 03 September 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "This statement on the situation of stateless Rohingya in Myanmar and Bangladesh
represents the views of Minority Rights Group (MRG) and partner organisations, the Equal
Rights Trust (ERT) and The Cordoba Foundation (TCF).
The Rohingya are an ethnic, religious (Muslim) and linguistic minority in Myanmar.
Approximately one million Rohingya live today in Rakhine state of Myanmar, of which
over 700,000 are concentrated in the northern region of the state.
The 1982 Citizenship Law
of Myanmar stripped them of nationality, making them stateless.1
This law has been the
legal basis for systematic arbitrary and discriminatory treatment against the Rohingya
community. Their human rights and freedoms have been routinely violated and eroded
through a series of draconian policies, arbitrary taxes and controls. Notably, Rohingya do
not have the freedom to move within Myanmar, those who leave Myanmar are denied the
right to return and face long-term imprisonment if captured upon re-entry, and severe
controls are placed on Rohingya marriages.2
The Myanmar security forces have a long
history of discrimination and systematic human rights abuses against the Rohingya
including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrest and detention, restriction of movement, and
forced labour.3...".....Written NGO statement to the 21th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Minority Rights Group via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/21/NGO/47) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (281K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 20 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Justice trade obstructing human rights in Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 11 June 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "The Asian Legal Resource Centre has in numerous previous written statements submitted to
the Human Rights Council and to its predecessor described how the politicization and
decrepitude of Myanmar's courts, policing and prosecution agencies are major obstacles to
the enjoyment of basic human rights in the country. In the last year, as political conditions
have begun to change, many organizations and concerned individuals have in turn begun to
appreciate the extent to which the country's justice system is indeed a heavy barrier to the
realization of human rights. In particular, many people have begun to take seriously calls to
study and develop responses to the pervasive corruption in the system. Meanwhile, public
debate about corruption has steadily increased...".....Written NGO statement to the 20th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Legal Resource Centre via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/20/NGO/32) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (156K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 20 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar at risk of land-grabbing epidemic |
| Date of publication: | | 11 June 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "In a written statement during its September 2011 session, the Asian Legal Resource Centre
alerted the Human Rights Council to the dangers posed to the rights of people in Myanmar
by the convergence of military, business and administrative interests in new projects aimed
at displacing cultivators and residents from their farms and homes. At that time, the Centre
wrote that whereas seizure of land has long been practiced in Myanmar, in recent years its
dynamics have changed, from direct seizure by army units and government departments, to
seizure by army-owned companies, joint ventures and other economically and politically
powerful operations with connections to the military. The ALRC cited details of two cases
which it had followed closely: the encroachment onto land of farmers in Kanma Township
of Magway Region, followed by the attack upon and prosecution of a number of those who
resisted the encroachment; and, and an attempt to demolish an historic Muslim cemetery in
Mandalay to make the land available for commercial use...".....Written NGO statement to the 20th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Legal Resource Centre via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/20/NGO/33) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (156K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 20 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | To rture, forced confession and a death sentence in Myanmar: the case of Phyo Wai Aung |
| Date of publication: | | 11 June 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "On 8 May 2012, a judge in Yangon sentenced young engineer Phyo Wai Aung to death for
his alleged involvement in a bombing attack in 2010 that killed 10 people and injured
scores. His trial began on 30 June 2010, when Myanmar was still under a military junta.
Since then, many important social and political changes have occurred in Myanmar;
however, the manner in which this case has been conducted and its outcome speak to the
continued political control of the judiciary, and continued authoritarian tendencies in
institutions of justice in Myanmar that enable officials to use the courts to persecute rather
than protect citizens...".....Written NGO statement to the 20th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Legal Resource Centre via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/20/NGO/34) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (158K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 20 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | The serious human rights situation in Myanmar requires the Human Rights Council’s continued attention |
| Date of publication: | | 28 February 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "Over the past year, Myanmar’s human rights situation has improved notably in some
respects but has significantly worsened in others. Freedoms
of assembly and expression
remain restricted; there still are hundreds of political prisoners and many prisoners of
conscience. In several ethnic minority areas the
army continues to commit violations of
international human rights and humanitarian law against civilians, including acts that may
constitute crimes against humanity or war crimes...".....Written NGO statement to the 19th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Amnesty International via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/19/NGO/139) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (184K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 21 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | The situation in Myanmar ** |
| Date of publication: | | 27 February 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "International Educational Development, Inc. (IED) and the Association of Humanitarian
Lawyers (AHL) have monitored the situation in Myanmar for 23 years.1
We have submitted
written statements and made oral ones at many sessions and have been twice invited by the
United States Congress to present testimony at hearings.
While IED/HLP have been gratified in recent months by the seeming shift towards
democratic reform in Myanmar, we strongly encourage the UN Human Rights Council, its
member states, and other actors in the international community to proceed with cautious
hope rather than unbridled enthusiasm and haste. The ostensibly positive changes seen in
this long-suffering country and its historically repressive governments are occurring in
rapid succession and the international community needs to approach developments with
immense care. We fear actions by numerous entities on the international stage are
cultivating an atmosphere of permissibility when it comes to the new “civilian”
government‟s continued human rights violations and crimes against humanity occurring in
its conflicts with ethnic nationalities...".....Written NGO statement to the 19th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | International Educational Development, Inc. via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/19/NGO/37) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (184K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 21 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | Human rights and reli gious freedom in Myanmar ** |
| Date of publication: | | 12 September 2011 |
| Description/subject: | | "The Jubilee Campaign, together with Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), seeks to draw
the Council’s attention to the domestic human rights and religious freedom situation in
Myanmar.
Despite repeated calls for change there has been little evidence for progress in Myanmar
which continues to be one of the foremost violators of human rights in the world. Since the
elections in 2010 there has been a significant increase in the scale and severity of human
rights violations, which include the systematic use of rape as a weapon of war, torture,
forced labour, forced conscription of child soldiers, and extrajudicial killings. The Jubilee
Campaign joins the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Myanmar in calling for a
Commission of Inquiry into these crimes which amount to crimes against humanity and war
crimes...".....Written NGO statement to the 18th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Jubilee Campaign via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/18/NGO/69) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (41K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 21 September 2015 |
|
| Title: | | From blinkered to enlightened despotism: Human rights in Myanmar under new government |
| Date of publication: | | 09 September 2011 |
| Description/subject: | | "Over a number of years, the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) has stressed to the
Human Rights Council that the grave human rights problems in Myanmar need to be
understood as problems arising from a profound disconnect between the member state and
the human rights standards of the international community. These problems are not ones
that can be addressed by tinkering at the edges, making some technical reforms, or through
a process of incremental administrative change of the sort advocated by some experts.
Although such activities will obviously effect some change, and perhaps result in successful
outcomes in individual cases, unless they touch on the underlying problem of the gap
between the norms-based language and activities of the global human rights movement and
the norm-less reality of a member state, from a human rights perspective they will not
amount to much...".....Written NGO statement to the 18th Session of UN Human Rights Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Legal Resource Centre via UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/18/NGO/33) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (46K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=125&su=129 (check here for new documents) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 21 September 2015 |
|
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