Speech

37th Universal Periodic Review: UK statement on Myanmar

The UK delivered a statement on Myanmar at the 37th Session of Universal Periodic Review (UPR), sharing recommendations to improve their human rights record.

• From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Julian Braithwaite
• Published: 25 January 2021

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

• Location: Geneva, Switzerland
• Delivered on: 25 January 2021 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

The UK welcomes Myanmar’s efforts to address human rights issues, such as ratifying the ICESCR. However, we remain concerned by limited progress regarding conflict in Chin, Kachin, Rakhine, and Shan states. Civilians bear the brunt of conflict, perpetrators of abuses are not held to account, and full humanitarian access is denied to many regions.

Recent elections were a welcome milestone towards democracy. But it is troubling that the Rohingya and those in conflict areas were disenfranchised.

We recommend Myanmar:

1. Implement the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine.

2. Amend the 1982 Citizenship Law and ensure the protection of the human and civil rights of the Rohingya and other disenfranchised groups as citizens of Myanmar.

3. Ratify the 2014 ILO Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention.

Thank you.

Published 25 January 2021