Myanmar moves forward following historic elections

Tomás Ojea Quintana, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar Myanmar is facing a number of challenges as it transitions to a freer and fairer society according to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the country. Tomás Ojea Quintana says the democratic election was a positive step forward. He hopes the outcome, which includes a parliamentary seat won by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, will help the country with its reforms. The Special Rapporteur says human rights in Myanmar have to be respected and the fighting in parts of the country has to stop. Julie Walker spoke with Mr. Ojea Quintana about what lies ahead for Myanmar, as well as the situation in the country right now.

Link to the podcast: http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/2012/04/myanmar-moves-forward-following-historic-elections/

Vacancy: Independent Expert on issue of human rights obligations related to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment

On behalf of the Secretariat of the Human Rights Council, below is a link to note verbale in relation to the vacancy of Independent Expert on issue of human rights obligations related to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, with the deadline set at Monday 7 May 2012 (Midnight, GMT).

Note Verbale: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByAQ4AI9tL9MdlhQOThLa1dSaHVOb2Z0WWEyUnhkQQ/edit?pli=1

Myanmar: “Sunday’s by-elections, key test of democratic reform process,” says UN expert

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, said that Myanmar’s by-elections on 1 April will be a key test of progress made by the Government in its process of reform. In the coming polls, 48 parliamentary seats will be contested.

“This is a crucial moment in Myanmar’s history,” Mr. Ojea Quintana said, recalling his latest report* to the Human Rights Council. “I have consistently stressed that the next round of elections should be truly free, fair, inclusive and transparent, but the credibility of Sunday’s vote will not be determined solely on the day, but in the lead-up to and following election day.” Read more...

A right to choose for persons with disabilities

“The right to political participation lies at the heart of democracy. It means taking part in decision making on public issues, it means true citizenship and equality. The history of this human right reveals a development from exclusion and denial to gradual recognition of universality and indivisibility,” said Theresia Degener of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. “It is remarkable that it took history until the 21st century to finally extend this right to disabled persons.” Read more...

• A study by the UN Human Rights office, which was presented at an expert panel during the 19th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva
• OHCHR study “People with disabilities taking part in politics” (easy to read version)

MEDIA STATEMENT - Pillay: Capitalizing on women’s potential in times of crisis

Statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on International Women’s Day 2012.

This year, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, I call on governments, community leaders and heads of families around the world to recognise, acknowledge and tap into the enormous potential of women to positively impact the world around them. This is a call directed not at any particular region of the world – it is a global call because the failure to capitalise on women’s potential is a global problem. Read more...

MEDIA STATEMENT - Pillay presents groundbreaking UN study on violence, discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation

Statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to the Panel on ending violence and discrimination against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity at the Human Rights Council 19th Session Geneva, 7 March 2012. Read more...

See Also:

• UN Secretary-General's Message to Human Rights Council meeting on Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity
• Video message from UN Secretary-General, BAN Ki-moon
• A stain on our collective conscience

Women in crisis

“International Women’s Day 2012 takes place in the context of widespread political and economic crisis,” said today UN independent expert Kamala Chandrakirana, who currently heads a new group* charged with identifying ways to eliminate existing discrimination in law and practice, and helping States to ensure greater empowerment and autonomy for women in all fields.

“In political transition, there is a danger of regression in the enjoyment by women of their human rights and women participating in public life are often exposed to violence,” she warned. “States must take the opportunity of political transition to improve women’s constitutional and political position, adopting positive measures to eliminate discrimination and promote the empowerment of women. Read more...

Joint Statement on the Compulsory drug detention and rehabilitation centres

United Nations entities call on States to close compulsory drug detention and rehabilitation centres and implement voluntary, evidence-informed and rights-based health and social services in the community.

The continued existence of compulsory drug detention and rehabilitation centres, where people who are suspected of using drugs or being dependent on drugs, people who have engaged in sex work, or children who have been victims of sexual exploitation are detained without due process in the name of “treatment” or “rehabilitation”, is a serious concern. Read more...

Inviting Written Submissions – The Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW Committee) Asia Pacific Regional Consultation for the Proposed General Recommendation on Human Rights of Women in Situations of Conflict and Post Conflict

CEDAW Committee’s Asia Pacific Regional Consultation for the Proposed General Recommendation on Human Rights of Women in Situations of Conflict and Post-conflict is scheduled to be held on 27-28 March 2012, In Bangkok (Thailand).

This is a call for national and regional level women’s rights groups, NGOs and networks in the Asia Pacific actively engaged in protecting women’s rights during conflict and in peace-building and reconstruction processes during the post-conflict & transition settings to submit Written Submissions to the CEDAW Committee’s Working Group organising the CEDAW Committee’s Asia Pacific Regional Consultation on the Proposed General Recommendation on Human Rights of Women in Situations of Conflict and Post-conflict on 27-28 March 2012 in Bangkok. Read more...

Myanmar: UN Special Rapporteur hails reforms, but warns of “risk of backtracking”

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, said the recent wave of reforms has already had a positive impact on the country and its people, but warned that serious challenges remain and must be addressed to improve the human rights situation in Myanmar and deepen its transition to democracy.

“There is a risk of backtracking on the progress achieved thus far,” the UN rights expert stressed at the end of his fifth mission* to Myanmar. “At this crucial moment in the country’s history, further and sustained action should be taken to bring about further change.” Read more...

Read also: “An important time in Myanmar’s history” – UN human rights expert visits

Committee on the Rights of the Child considers report of Thailand

The Committee on the Rights of the Child has reviewed the combined third and fourth periodic report of Thailand on its implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Santi Promphat, Minister of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand, told the Committee that new laws had been passed on areas such as nationality, domestic violence, anti-trafficking of persons, juvenile justice, and the promotion of child and youth development. Thailand was currently implementing universal healthcare coverage, and had successfully decreased child malnutrition and the maternal and under fives mortality rates. Thailand had achieved Millennium Development Goal Two on universal primary education and Goal Three on eliminating gender disparity among boys and girls. The age of criminal responsibility had been increased from seven to ten years of age, while measures to combat commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking, including training of law-enforcement officials, were in place. Thailand was well aware of its remaining challenges which included child labour, teenage pregnancy and vulnerable children in the southern border provinces, as well as supporting the child victims of the massive 2011 floods. Read more...

Workshop for Thai NGOs on effective alternative reporting to the UN Committee against Torture

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for South-East Asia in collaboration with the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and with the support from the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office conducted a two-day workshop for Thai NGOs on effective alternative reporting to the UN Committee against Torture in Bangkok on 21 – 22 January 2012.

The workshop was attended by approximately 20 representatives from various NGOs in Thailand. The main objective of the workshop was to strengthen the capacity of Thai civil society to engage effectively in the reporting process to the Committee against Torture, in particular through alternative reporting and follow-up. Read more...

Committee on the Rights of the Child examines report of Myanmar

The Committee on the Rights of the Child today considered the combined third and fourth periodic report of Myanmar on its implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Presenting the report, U Maung Wai, Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said that Myanmar had entered a new era. Just two days ago the Government of Myanmar had ratified the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. New Government bodies on social affairs, education, health promotion and a National Human Rights Commission had been formed, and the National Committee on the Rights of the Child was reconstituted in May 2011. Reforms had been carried out in healthcare, with maternal, newborn and child health at the centre, and free and compulsory primary education had been introduced. The Government placed high priority on the prevention of child labour, particularly child recruitment into the military, and was taking punitive action against perpetrators from the armed forces. Much, however, remained to be done, particularly in awareness-raising, child protection and birth registration. Myanmar might be a developing country but it would not shy away from its obligations under the Convention. Read more...