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Burma

HRC39: Oral Statement on Burma

20 Sep 2018

39th Session of the UN Human Rights Council 

Agenda Item 4: Interactive Dialogue with the FFM on Myanmar

Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you Mr President.

CSW welcomes the work of the Human Rights Council’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar.

CSW remains concerned by the gross human rights violations against the Rohingya in Rakhine state detailed in the report. The persecution of the Rohingya by Myanmar’s military since August 2017 has represented the most severe human-rights and humanitarian crisis in the country since independence in 1949. 

We are also concerned by the Mission’s findings of further crimes against humanity by the military in Kachin and Shan states, including murder, enforced disappearance, torture, enslavement and multiple forms of sexual violence.

CSW therefore calls on the government of Myanmar to take decisive action against the military and end the culture of impunity that has allowed these crimes against humanity to continue. 

We also encourage the government of Myanmar to allow unhindered access to UN representatives and international humanitarian aid agencies.

The government must also take steps to counter hate speech, promote and protect freedom of religion or belief for all, and engage all stakeholders in a genuine, meaningful peace process to end decades of ethnic conflict and religious strife.

We echo the Mission’s calls for the international community to assist Myanmar in protecting its people, and further encourage the international community to act immediately in support of the Mission’s recommendations to ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes are held accountable.

CSW is also concerned by findings suggesting that the violence against the Rohingya may have constituted genocide.

We therefore welcome the development that the International Criminal Court may exercise jurisdiction over the deportation of the Rohingya to Bangladesh. However, recognising the limited scope of this, we strongly support the Fact Finding Mission’s calls for a full referral to the ICC. 

CSW also support calls for the investigation and prosecution of senior military officials named in the Mission’s report.

Thank you.

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We believe no one should suffer discrimination, harassment or persecution because of their beliefs