EU Presidency Re-introduction Statement - Human Rights in Myanmar

EU Presidency Re-introduction Statement on the SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR, by the UK Mission to the UN on behalf of the European Union, UN General Assembly, Third Committee, New York

Mr. Chairperson,

On behalf of the European Union and co-sponsors listed in L.53, I have the honour to introduce under agenda item 71(c) the draft resolution entitled "Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar," contained in document A/60/C.3/L.53

Additionally, this resolution has also been co-sponsored by the following countries: Australia, Bulgaria, Monaco, the Republic of Moldova, Switzerland and the United States of America.

Mr. Chairperson,

This year, Aung San Suu Kyi spent her 60th birthday under house arrest, one of more than 1,100 political prisoners in detention in Myanmar. The EU remains deeply concerned by these and other ongoing, systematic abuses of human rights. Opposition groups are consistently harassed. Government forces inflict forced labour, rape and forms of other sexual violence, extortion and expropriation upon ethnic communities. Prison conditions fail to meet international standards.

Mr. Chairperson,

The United Nations has much to offer in alleviating humanitarian situations and in advising Governments and in providing technical assistance. It is, therefore, a matter of great concern to the EU that the government has reduced its co-operation with the United Nations system and other international organisations. In particular, we deeply regret that the Secretary-General's Special Envoy has not been allowed to visit since March 2004, and the Special Rapporteur since November 2003. We also note with grave concern intimidation of those who co-operate with the ILO and death threats against the ILO's Liaison Officer ad interim.

Mr. Chairperson,

There have been positive developments in human rights and other fields in Myanmar, as outlined in the report of the Special Rapporteur, Prof. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro. We have been pleased to reflect these in the draft resolution.

In a similar vein, Mr. Chairperson, the European Union has also changed the focus of the way that political developments have been reflected. Democratic transition will have a fundamental influence on the situation of human rights and the European Union wanted, in this year's resolution, a more constructive, forward-looking approach to those issues. We have sought in document L.53 to acknowledge the process set in train by the Government and to point out the kinds of minimum international standards that would underpin a successful transition to democracy, such as adherence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Mr. Chairperson,

The European Union fully agrees that a co-operative approach on human rights can lead to results in the improvement of situations and the ability of Governments to promote and protect human rights.

This is why we specifically inserted an offer of technical assistance to the Government on issues covered by this resolution.

But in order for such co-operation to work, all of us must demonstrate a similar commitment to co-operate with the UN system and the international community.

Mr. Chairperson, this resolution has been adopted by consensus in the past, a demonstration of the commitment of the whole of the UN membership to work with the Government to improve the situation of human rights. We urge members of the General Assembly again to adopt this draft resolution without a vote.

Finally, Mr. Chairperson, I would like to set out two small amendments to the text that have been made to OP1(d) and OP3(h). These are designed to ensure that the text accurately reflects the report of the Secretary-General on the Situation of human rights in Myanmar:

In OP1(d) there is an addition in the second line of the words 'on 6 July 2005' after the words 'The release by the Government of Myanmar of 249 political prisoners'.

In OP3 (h) in the fourth line, the words 'a genuinely inclusive' should be deleted and replaced with the words 'an inclusive and credible'.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.

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• EU Presidency Statement - Human Rights in Myanmar (18/11/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Human Rights in Myanmar (8/11/2005)