United Nations Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Ms Yanghee Lee will undertake her second official visit to Myanmar fromJanuary 7 to 16, 2015.
6 January 2015| Written by Phyu Phyu Zin | Published in Myanmar
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Ms Yanghee Lee will undertake her second official visit to Myanmar fromJanuary 7 to 16, 2015.
Ms Lee will gather first-hand information on the current human rights situation in Rakhine State and in northern Shan State, according to a press release from United Nation Information Center issued on January 5.
“I will review the situation in the camps for internally displaced persons and in isolated locations in the Rakhine State, to assess if there has been improvement in the critical conditions I came across on my first visit to Myanmar in July 2014,” she said.
She will meet the Chief Minister of Rakhine State to discuss current developments toward peace, stability and the rule of law, including the government-initiated Rakhine State Action Plan. She will meet as well with community leaders in the context of inter-communal tensions and efforts towards reconciliation.
“In the northern Shan State, I will look at the human rights situation of religious and ethnic minorities,” Ms. Lee said. “I will also speak with various parties about the situation of sexual and gender-based violence in the context of the ongoing conflict in this region.”
The independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor, report and advise on the situation of human rights in Myanmar will also assess progress on the authorities’ commitments towards democratic reform.
She will also review issues related to freedom of association and the media, as well as land disputes and protests against development projects.
“I will pay special attention to the significant human rights concerns raised by the package of four bills on protection of race and religion, which contain provisions that do not meet international human rights standards,” Ms. Lee said. “I am deeply concerned that if passed, these four bills will legitimize discrimination, in particular against religious and ethnic minorities and against women.”
With Myanmar now in an electoral year, the UN Special Rapporteur will also discuss progress in the democratic process with authorities and civil society to encourage these forthcoming national elections to be transparent, inclusive, participatory, free and fair.
During her 10-day visit, the expert will meet with Government officials, members of Parliament and the judiciary, the National Human Rights Commission and members of civil society in Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon.
She also intends to visit political prisoners that remain in detention.
The Special Rapporteur, who visits the country at the invitation of the Myanmar Government, expressed her appreciation of the open engagement and cooperation that has been offered in the preparation for her mission.
Following her visit and investigation, Ms. Lee will submit a report to the UN Human Rights Council in April 2015.