UN Human Rights Council Condemns Myanmar’s Abuse, Calls for Immediate Action
In the resolution, adopted without a vote, the Council strongly condemned all violations and abuses of human rights in Myanmar, in particular following the military coup in February 2021.
The report calls on Myanmar to “immediately cease all acts of violence and violations of international law in the country, to ensure full protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people of Myanmar, including Rohingya Muslims and other minorities”.
The report also calls for addressing the root causes of the crisis and providing viable, long-term and sustainable solutions, as well as eliminating statelessness and systemic discrimination against members of ethnic and religious minorities, particularly the Rohingya.
Terrible violence
The Muslim Rohingya community suffered horrific violence from the country’s security forces in 2017, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee to Bangladesh, where they continue to languish in refugee camps.
Although temporary measures have been ordered International Court of Justice (International Court of Justice) in January 2020, Rohingya people in Myanmar, including women and children, continued to suffer targeted killings and indiscriminate violence, including airstrikes, shelling, arson, landmines and unexploded ordnance.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 1,052 civilian casualties were recorded due to mine and explosive ordnance incidents in 2023 – more than three times the 390 deaths the previous year.
More than 20 percent of the victims were children.
Reliable international surveys
47 members Dong Nhan Quy Association The Human Rights Council (HRC), the United Nations’ highest intergovernmental forum on all rights-related issues, also stressed the need for international, independent, impartial and transparent investigations into allegations of sexual and gender-based violence, abuse of women and children and alleged war crimes.
It reiterates the importance of holding accountable all those responsible for atrocities and crimes against humanity in order to ensure justice for the victims using all appropriate legal instruments and judicial mechanisms, including the ICJ and International Criminal Court (ICC), as the case may be.
Heavy rains hit a refugee camp in northern Myanmar. (file)
Fear of widespread conflict
The Geneva-based council continued to warn of the cross-border spillover effects of the conflict in Myanmar, which is said to have caused casualties and property damage in Bangladesh and other bordering countries.
It stressed the need to immediately end fighting and hostilities as well as the targeting of civilians.
The statement also called for an “inclusive and comprehensive” national political dialogue and a national reconciliation process while “ensuring the full, effective and meaningful participation” of all ethnic groups, including the Rohingya and other minorities, women, youth and persons with disabilities, as well as civil society and religious leaders.
Stop Hate Speech
Also in the resolution, the HRC called on Myanmar to combat incitement to hatred and hate speech against the Rohingya and other minorities, both online and offline, including by enacting necessary hate speech and criminal laws.
The report also calls on the country to completely lift the shutdown of internet and telecommunications services in all areas, including in Rakhine State, and to avoid further cuts to internet and telecommunications access and repression of freedom of expression and assembly.
