Statement by the Coordination Committee of Special Procedures on the repeated hate speech and incitement to violence
directed against the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar
GENEVA (20 March 2015) – “The Coordination Committee of Special Procedures – the 53 independent experts and bodies
appointed by the Human Rights Council with specific mandates on a range of issues and country situations – deplores the
repeated hate speech and incitement to violence directed against the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Ms. Yanghee Lee.
Ms. Lee has been personally insulted and subjected to clear public threats against her person on at least two occasions
in recent weeks.
Substantive disagreement with a Special Rapporteurs’ assessment can always be expressed. It is however unacceptable for
mandate holders to be subjected to violent threats and public abuse when discharging their mandates which are
established by the United Nations Human Rights Council, the key UN body comprising 47 Member States.
While acknowledging that the Government of Myanmar is not directly responsible for such statements, we strongly urge the
authorities to disassociate themselves from these statements, to take all necessary measures to address, and prosecute
as necessary, all acts of incitement to hatred and violence, as required under international law, and to fulfil their
responsibility to ensure the safety and integrity of Ms. Lee as she carries out her mandate, and in particular during
her visits to the country.”
ENDS