Minister Adams begins 2-day visit to Geneva for talks on UK and Southeast Asia relations
Minister for Asia, Nigel Adams to hold talks with Indo-Pacific representatives and international human rights leaders.
Minister Adams with Nick Koumjian, Head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar.
The Minister for Asia will be in Geneva for 2 days (16 to 17 June) to discuss the current crisis in Myanmar, including the humanitarian situation and the UK’s assistance for the Rohingya.
Minister Adams will meet with Indo-Pacific Permanent Representatives, international human rights leaders from the UN and Nick Koumjian, the Head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM). The Minister will also meet Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Speaking ahead of his visit, Minister Adams said:
A strong Indo-Pacific relationship is a critical part of our global engagement, foreign policy and our Integrated Review. I am looking forward to my meetings in Geneva to discuss how the UK can strengthen our engagement in the Indo-Pacific and on issues such as Myanmar and the human rights violations in Xinjiang.
On the current crisis in Myanmar, the UK continues to engage with a range of partners, globally and in the region, to help align objectives, encourage dialogue, find a peaceful resolution and the restoration of democracy.
Trade cooperation and partnerships will also be on the agenda with Minister Adams due to meet the Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, Pamela Coke-Hamilton to discuss the UK’s ongoing support for the WTO’s international Aid-for-Trade initiative within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global ‘Building Back Better’ agenda. The Minister will also meet with Houlin Zhao, the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union.
Background
The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar was established by the Human Rights Council in September 2018. It is mandated to collect evidence of the most serious international crimes and violations of international law and prepare files for criminal prosecution, making use of the information handed over to it by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar (FFMM). The Myanmar Mechanism became operational on 30 August 2019.
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