Myanmar: UN expert to assess human rights situation in Rakhine and Northern Shan States
GENEVA (5 January 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, will undertake her second
official visit to the country from 7-16 January 2015. Ms. Lee will gather first-hand information on the current human
rights situation in the Rakhine and Northern Shan States, among other issues.
“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.
The human rights expert will meet the Chief Minister of the Rakhine State to discuss current developments toward peace,
stability and the rule of law, including the Rakhine Action Plan. She will meet as well with community leaders in the
context of intercommunal 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
noted. “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 stressed.
“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 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 ten-day visit, the expert will meet with Government officials, members of Parliament and the judiciary, the
National Human Rights commission and civil society in Naypyitaw 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 Government, expressed her appreciation of the
open engagement and cooperation that has been offered in the preparation of this mission. Ms. Lee will submit a report
to the Human Rights Council in April 2015
ENDS
Ms. Yanghee Lee (Republic of Korea) was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2014. She is independent from any
government or organization and serves in her individual capacity. Ms. Lee served as member and chairperson of the UN
Committee on the Rights of the Child (2003-2011). She is currently a professor at Sungkyunwan University, Seoul, and
serves on the Advisory Committee of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. Ms. Lee is the founding President of
International Child Rights Center, and serves as Vice-chair of the National Unification Advisory Council. Learn more, go
to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/CountriesMandates/MM/Pages/SRMyanmar.aspx
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special
Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s
independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in
all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive
a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual
capacity.
UN Human Rights, country page – Myanmar: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/MMIndex.aspx