UN HRC issues report on Myanmar


UN General Assembly
Human Rights Council 
Fortieth session
25 February–22 March 2019 
Agenda item 4 
Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention 
 
Excerpts of the resolutions are provided below. For the full report click here: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/40/L.19  
 
 
Reiterating the urgent need to ensure that all those responsible for crimes under international law, including violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law, in particular in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan States, are held to account through credible and independent national or international criminal justice mechanisms, while recalling the authority of the Security Council to refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court, and inviting Myanmar to become a party to the Rome Statute or to accept the exercise of jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court in accordance with article 12 (3) of the Rome Statute, 


                      Welcoming the four-month unilateral ceasefire in northern and eastern conflict areas declared by the armed forces of Myanmar, the Tatmadaw on 21 December 2018, and encouraging them to respect the ceasefire fully, to make every effort to reduce tensions on the ground, and to extend the ceasefire in time and scope,

 Expresses grave concern at continuing reports of serious human rights violations and abuses in Myanmar, including sexual and gender-based violence and violations and abuses against children, in particular in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan States, and calls upon the Myanmar authorities, in particular the Myanmar military and security forces, to end immediately violence and all violations of international law in Myanmar, in particular in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan States; 
 
Calls upon the Government of Myanmar to ensure the protection of the human rights of all persons in Myanmar and to take all measures necessary to ensure accountability and to end impunity for all violations and abuses of human rights by undertaking a full, transparent and independent investigation into reports of all violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law; 
Calls upon the Government of Myanmar to safeguard those who report violations and abuses, and expresses concern about reports of the arrest of individuals exercising those rights, and in this regard encourages the Government to amend restrictive laws and to end restrictions on exercising the rights to the freedoms of religion or belief, expression, association and peaceful assembly, which are essential to ensure a safe and enabling environment for all, notably civil society, human rights defenders, journalists, media workers, lawyers, environmental and land rights activists, in particular encourages the Government to proceed with the reform of the Media Law and to review, repeal or reform contested legislation, including the Official Secrets Act, the Unlawful Associations Act, the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law, articles 66 (d) and 80 (c) of the Telecommunications Act, and articles 500 and 505 (b) of the Penal Code to bring them into line with international human rights law obligations; 

                                       Also calls upon the Government of Myanmar to fulfil its commitment to release unconditionally all remaining political prisoners and to provide for the full rehabilitation of former political prisoners, and reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, and of other journalists, media workers, human rights defenders and activists detained, charged and arrested under these restrictive laws, and for the Government to step up without delay action to combat hate speech and incitement to violence and hatred; 

                       Further calls upon the Government of Myanmar to take the measures necessary to promote the inclusion, rights and dignity of all people living in Myanmar, to address the spread of discrimination and prejudice and to combat the incitement to hatred and violence against ethnic, religious and other minorities by publicly condemning such acts, carrying out education programmes, in accordance with international human rights law and standards, and by promoting interfaith dialogue in cooperation with the international community, and encourages political and religious leaders in the country to work towards national unity through dialogue; 

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