HRC43: Oral statement during ID with Special Rapporteur on Myanmar

Agenda Item 4: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you Madame President,

CSW welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur and thanks the Rapporteur for her work and dedication to human rights during her time as mandate holder.

We also welcome the recent International Court of Justice ruling which ordered Myanmar to take immediate measures to prevent further genocide against the Rohingya people. The ruling once again highlights the horrific persecution of the Rohingya in recent years.

Over 700,000 predominantly Muslim Rohingyas remain in Bangladesh after fleeing mass violence in which thousands were killed and hundreds more were injured. Reported violations include the burning of homes, schools and mosques, burning people to death inside their homes, mass rape, torture, execution without trial, and the blocking of humanitarian aid.

We call on Myanmar to comply fully with the ICJ ruling, by bringing an end to all violations against the Rohingya.

Aside from the Rohingya, other Muslim groups in Myanmar also face violations of their human rights. Muslim homes, schools and mosques have been demolished, and Muslim businesses have been targeted with communal violence. Muslims also face discrimination in the judicial and educational systems.

We call on Myanmar to ensure that the right to freedom of religion or belief is fully respected in accordance with the principles laid out in international law.

CSW also remains concerned by the ongoing violations against civilians in the predominantly Christian Kachin and northern Shan states, where conflict between the Myanmar Army and the Kachin Independence Army has led to thousands of civilian deaths, and the displacement of over 120,000 people.

Human rights violations observed in these states include killing, arbitrary detention, torture, targeted religious persecution, sexual violence and humanitarian aid blocks which have restricted their access to clean water, health care, proper hygiene and sanitation, among other basic necessities.

To date, neither the government of Myanmar nor the international community has taken sufficient action to ensure that justice is served.

We therefore call for measures to ensure the protection of vulnerable communities and conduct detailed investigations into allegations of human rights violations, holding those responsible to account.

Thank you