Media Advisory: Launch of a Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in Burma and Appropriate Protection Mechanisms

By The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners and Burma Partnership and Burma Partnership • July 22, 2015

A new report, “How to Defend the Defenders? A Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in Burma and Appropriate Protection Mechanisms,” co-authored by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners and Burma Partnership, will be launched on 24 July 2015 at the “International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies” to be held at the Chiang Mai University in Thailand.

The report is based on interviews with 75 human rights defenders (HRDs) who carry out a range of human rights work including: land rights and labor rights, LGBTIQ rights, women’s rights and ethnic rights, among others. The report describes the backsliding of democratic reforms and a deteriorating human rights situation in Burma, contrary to the much-touted reforms undertaken by President Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian government. It seeks to provide a comprehensive picture of the current situation of HRDs in Burma and offers concrete, research-based policy recommendations to relevant actors.

The organizations involved will be holding a joint press conference to discuss the detailed findings of the research and the report, identifying trends of the threats HRDs face and the protection mechanisms that are available, as well as presenting recommendations to better protect and promote the legitimate work of HRDs.

What: Launch of “How to Defend the Defenders? A Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in Burma and Appropriate Protection Mechanisms”
Where: Chiang Mai University, UNISERV Building, Room III
239 Huay Kaew Road, Tambon Suthep, Amphoe Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand (Please visit the Chiang Mai University’s website for further details: http://rcsd.soc.cmu.ac.th/web/Burma/home.php)
When: 16:30 – 17:15, Friday 24th July 2015
Speakers:
Khin Ohmar (Coordinator, Burma Partnership)
Aung Khaing Min (Chief of Staff, Assistance Association for Political Prisoners)

For more information please contact: Rin Fujimatsu, Media and Communications Officer, Burma Partnership, +66 (0) 835511446 / [email protected].

Download the media advisory here.