HRC57: Oral statement during dialogue on the report of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar

Item 2: Interactive dialogue on the report of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar

Organisation:Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker:Claire Denman

Thank you, Mr. President,

CSW thanks the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar for its detailed report. We reiterate the importance of incorporating religious intersectionality in the identification and documentation of grave human rights violations against ethnic and religious minorities in Myanmar, particularly in conflict-affected regions.

We welcome the Mechanism’s continued gathering of evidence of serious international crimes committed by the military in Myanmar. While we also welcome the efforts of current accountability mechanisms, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the legal processes in Argentina, these platforms are yet to adequately address crimes committed against broader ethnic and religious groups, both pre- and post-coup. We call on Member States to ensure that those responsible for these crimes are brought to justice.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), 27,000 political prisoners have been arrested on vague and overbroad laws since the 2021 coup, and over 20,000 remain in detention.[1]

Among those who have since been released is the former President of the Kachin Baptist Convention, Reverend Dr Hkalam Samson, who was held from December 2022 until July 2024 on unfounded charges of unlawful association, defaming the state, and terrorism.

We call on the military to ensure that Reverend Samson and his family are permitted to enjoy his freedom in peace and without fear of further legal prosecution.

We also continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining political prisoners in the country.

Thank you.

[1] Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), figures correct 22 August 2024, https://aappb.org/