UNITED
NATIONS
Press
Release
COMMISSION
ON HUMAN RIGHTS ADOPTS MEASURES ON SITUATIONS IN
Commission on Human Rights
59th session
Afternoon
…….
The Commission on Human Rights adopted
resolutions this afternoon expressing concern over human rights situations in
the Democratic People's
.........
In a resolution on the situation of human
rights in Myanmar, (E/CN.4/2003/L.36), adopted without a vote, the Commission
welcomed the freedom of movement within the country enjoyed by the leader of
the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi; the release from prison of
a number of persons detained for political activities; the visits to Myanmar by
the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Myanmar and the cooperation
extended to him by the Government of Myanmar; the visits by the Special Rapporteur
during the past year. It expressed concern over the curtailment of his
fact-finding visit in March 2003 owing to the discovery of listening devices
during his interviews with prisoners in Insein prison, and expected that the
outcome of a thorough investigation into the incident would be communicated to
the High Commissioner for Human Rights; continued cooperation with the
International Committee of the Red Cross; the visit by an Amnesty International
delegation to Myanmar; the appointment of the Liaison Officer of the
International Labour Organization and her efforts to fulfil her mandate; the
growing awareness of the Government of the need to combat the production of
opium in Myanmar; the growing awareness of the Government of the need to
respond effectively to the HIV/AIDS epidemic; the dissemination of human rights
standards for public officials and some non-governmental organizations and
ethnic groups through a series of workshops, but stressed that such activities
needed to lead also to efforts to improve the human rights situation on the
ground; took note of the establishment by the Government of a committee on
human rights as a precursor to the establishment of a national human rights
commission.
The Commission called upon the Government to
fulfil its obligations to restore the independence of the judiciary and due
process of law, and to take further steps to reform the system of
administration of justice; to take immediate action to implement fully measures
to eradicate the practice of forced labour by all organs of government,
including the armed forces; to take action to implement agree modalities and a
framework for the position of the Liaison Officer of the International Labour
Organization; to immediately ensure safe and unhindered access to all parts of
Myanmar for the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations and
to cooperate fully with all sectors of society, especially with the National
League for Democracy and other relevant groups, through consultation, to ensure
the provision of humanitarian assistance and to guarantee that it actually
reached the most vulnerable groups of the population; to improve cooperation
with the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur in
order to bring Myanmar towards a transition to civilian rule; to consider as a
matter of high priority becoming party to the United Nations human rights
instruments relating to civil and political rights, economic, social and
cultural rights, prevention of torture, prevention of discrimination,
protection of migrants, the rights of refugees, and the Optional Protocols to
the Convention on the Rights of the Child; to pursue through dialogue and
peaceful means the immediate suspension and permanent end of conflict with all
ethnic groups in Myanmar; to establish a national human rights commission;
strongly urged the Government of Myanmar to restore democracy and to respect
the results of the 1990 elections; to end the systematic violation of human
rights in Myanmar, to ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental
freedoms, to end impunity and to investigate and bring to justice any
perpetrators of human rights violations, including members of the military and
other government agents in all circumstances; without further delay to
facilitate an independent international investigation of continuing reports of
sexual violence and other abuse of civilians carried out by members of the
armed forces in Shan and other States; to release unconditionally and
immediately all political prisoners with particular emphasis on the elderly and
the sick; to put an immediate end to the recruitment and use of child soldiers;
to lift all restraints on peaceful political activity of all persons; to end the
systematic enforced displacement of persons and other causes of refugee flows
to neighbouring countries; to carry out fully necessary action against the
HIV/AIDS epidemic; and the Commission decided to extend the mandate of the
Special Rapporteur on the situation in Myanmar for a further year.
A Representative of India said
A Representative of China said that in recent
years the Government of Myanmar had cooperated with the Red Cross, the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other international organizations
and had made efforts to promote human rights. In the past year, the Special
Representative of the Government of Myanmar had held talks with National League
for Democracy on twelve occasions. The Government's efforts to promote and
protect human rights deserved the acknowledgement of the international
community. As a neighbour of
A Representative of Cuba said that despite
the co-sponsors' best wishes the drafters had only timidly included some of the
positive developments in
A Representative of Sri Lanka said the
delegation had taken note of the achievements of
A Representative of Myanmar said the draft
resolution on the situation in
A Representative of Malaysia, speaking on
behalf of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), said
improvements in human rights only occurred with the cooperation of the country
concerned. ASEAN was pleased to note that the Government of Myanmar had been
cooperating with international mechanisms over the last year. There had been
progress both in peace talks as well as in the improvement of infrastructure.
The Government of Myanmar was called upon to continue this important
cooperation. However, ASEAN countries believed this issue would have been
better dealt with as "assistance to the Government of Myanmar on the
situation of human rights" under agenda item 19, as opposed to the condemnation
and discouragement meted out under agenda item 9.
A Representative of the