HRC61 - EU Introduction - Item 4/ L.24

UN Human Rights Council 
58th session – Item 4
Resolution L.24 rev. 1 - Introduction

Situation of human rights in Myanmar      

 EU Introduction

Mr. President,

I am honoured to introduce draft resolution A/HRC/61/L24/rev. 1 on the “Situation of human rights in Myanmar” on behalf of the European Union.  

The EU is grateful to all stakeholders for their constructive cooperation. 

Mr. President, 

Five years after the Myanmar military’s coup against a democratically elected government, Myanmar still constitutes one of the worse – and most active – human rights crises. 

Indeed, the Myanmar military junta continues to relentlessly attack civilians, in particular through air strikes, and to obstruct humanitarian aid, driving Myanmar into a spiralling humanitarian crisis. 

Besides the continuing intense conflict, transnational crime and forced recruitment, there has been election-related violence, as the Myanmar military tried to legitimize its stranglehold on power through elections which were neither free nor fair. 

Horrific and systematic human rights violations and abuses persist. 

Persons in vulnerable situations, and in particular persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, including the Rohingya, continue to bear the brunt. The voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of all refugees and displaced persons remains impossible. 

This Council must therefore respond.

Mr President, 

L. 24 does precisely that. It emphasizes to the Myanmar military that their brutal and inhumane attacks against civilians and their continued attacks on medical and humanitarian relief personnel must cease, and that all violence, by all parties to the conflict, must cease. 

L.24 underscores the importance of accountability efforts. In that regard, the independent Investigative mechanism for Myanmar, ICC, ICJ and processes under universal jurisdiction are beacons of hope for victims and survivors. 

The draft also calls on states to prevent atrocities, in particular through the respect of their international commitments, and notably by taking meaningful, effective and targeted action to end the military’s access to arms. 

Mr President,

In the spirit of efficiency, we have made efforts to streamline the resolution and make the work of the Council on Myanmar more focused. We will continue these efforts. 

The adoption of the resolution by consensus by this Council will send a strong signal of support to the people of Myanmar and their aspirations for effective human rights protection, accountability, democracy and a civilian government reflecting the will of its people. 

We therefore call on all members of the Council to support L.24 rev 1.

Thank you.