Groups call for citizenship law reform

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) joins 30 other Burma campaign groups in calling for Burma’s controversial 1982 Citizenship Law to be repealed and replaced with a new law that is compatible with Burma’s obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

A joint statementreleased today states: “The Citizenship Law introduced by General Ne Win in 1982 is not compatible with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or with Burma’s legal obligations under international treaties. It arbitrarily stripped many people in Burma of the right to citizenship.”

“The 1982 Citizenship Law should be repealed, and replaced with a new law founded on basic principles of human rights. The new law should honour equality and non-discrimination, and help create an inclusive and tolerant Burma.”

The question of citizenship is one of the many issues fuelling recent violence between the majority Buddhist Rakhine people and the predominantly Muslim Rohingyas in Burma’s Rakhine (Arakan) State.

Benedict Rogers, CSW’s East Asia Team Leader, said, “We are very pleased that so many organisations, both Burmese and international, have united in calling on the Burmese government to examine seriously the question of citizenship and ensure that all the peoples of Burma are treated with equal rights in accordance with international norms. This is an urgent and serious subject, given the recent crisis in Arakan State and the statelessness of the Rohingya people. We simply call for basic human rights for all people to be observed and respected, and for the citizenship of all people born in Burma to be properly considered and recognised.”

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 / +44 (0) 78 2332 9663, email [email protected] or visit www.csw.org.uk.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.

Notes to Editors:

1. For the full text of the statement, click here.

2. Article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:

1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.

2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

3. Article 7 of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child states:

1. The child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and, as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents.

2. States Parties shall ensure the implementation of these rights in accordance with their national law and their obligations under the relevant international instruments in this field, in particular where the child would otherwise be stateless.