HRC 37 - Clustered Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar and the fact-finding Mission in Myanmar - EU Intervention

Mr. President,

The European Union thanks both Ms. Yanghee Lee, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of human rights in Myanmar/Burma, and Mr. Darusman, chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, for their presentations. We regret the decision of the Government of Myanmar to deny the Special Rapporteur access to the country and call for cooperation with her mandate to be resumed without delay.  We also reiterate our call on the Government of Myanmar to cooperate fully with the Fact-Finding Mission and grant full, unrestricted and unmonitored access to all areas and interlocutors. The EU finds the reports of reprisals against individuals who cooperated with the mandate of the Special Rapporteur extremely disturbing. Reprisals are completely unacceptable.

The EU remains deeply concerned about the extremely serious situation in Myanmar/Burma, in particular in Rakhine State. We condemn the ongoing widespread, coordinated and systematic grave human rights violations committed by Myanmar/Burma military and security forces, including rape and killings and reiterate our condemnation of attacks by other militant groups. Full accountability for all atrocities must be ensured, based on evidence collected through credible and independent investigations.

The EU acknowledges the renewed commitment of the Government during the Myanmar-EU Human Rights Dialogue on 5 March, to advance democracy, peace and national reconciliation and implement the recommendations given by the Advisory Commission.

We deplore that a climate of fear, insecurity, impunity and lack of rule of law continue to prevail in Rakhine State resulting in further refugee flows and that humanitarian and development as well as media access in the area remains restricted.

We urge Myanmar/Burma to create conditions for voluntary, safe and dignified return of displaced persons to their places of origin, in line with international law, including human rights law.

We have the following questions:

To the SR: In your report, you emphasise the need to establish a structure based in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, to investigate and collect evidence in order to allow international criminal proceedings. How can the international community be of assistance in this endeavour?

To the FFM: What would you recommend in terms of follow up to the findings of the Fact-Finding Mission?