UN Human Rights Council 48: UK statement for the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar
UK International Ambassador for Human Rights Rita French gave a statement reiterating our call on the military to respect the human rights and democratic wishes of the people of Myanmar.
Thank you Special Rapporteur for your update and for your efforts as you fulfil your important mandate.
The United Kingdom condemns the military coup in Myanmar and I reiterate our call on the military to respect the human rights and democratic wishes of the people of Myanmar. Arbitrary arrests, deaths of innocents, and other restrictions on rights and freedoms continue across the country. These must cease.
You have set out the devastating impacts the coup will have on already vulnerable communities. Civilian casualties in the ethnic states have been exacerbated by the coup, and the number of IDPs continues to grow. Without a sustainable and inclusive solution, the situation in Myanmar will continue to be a source of regional instability, and attempts to address endemic conflict and health issues will continue to be hampered by political dysfunction.
What began as a political crisis is fast becoming an economic and humanitarian crisis. Pre-coup, the 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan identified nearly 1 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. The UN estimated that by July, 3 million people required emergency support, of whom 540,000 were displaced. This included 206,000 people who had been displaced since the coup.
Special Rapporteur,
What can the international community do to ensure humanitarian access to the most vulnerable in Myanmar?