Burma/Myanmar: Reforms Must Not Overshadow Serious Human Rights Abuses

The Burma/Myanmar government has recently undertaken several important steps towards democratic reforms which have generated cautious but notable optimism by the international community. As observed by Mr. Tomas Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar at the conclusion of his most recent visit to the country on 16 February 2013, “while this process of reform is continuing in the right direction, there are significant human rights shortcomings that remain unaddressed”. In this regard, human rights defenders from Burma/Myanmar continue to be deeply troubled over the ground reality where persistent and serious human rights violations, particularly against ethnic and religious minorities, take place in an environment of impunity while the rule of law and an independent and impartial justice system are still largely absent. This side event presents an opportunity for a discussion on the views and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur as well as civil society members from Burma/Myanmar with the view to achieve substantive and far‐reaching reforms in the country.

Monday, 11 March 2013
15h00 ‐ 17h00
Room XXVII (27), Palais des Nations
Geneva, Switzerland

Panelists

Mr. Tomas Ojea Quintana
UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

Mr. Htay Kywe
88 Generation Student Group

Ms. Jessica Nkhum
Kachin Women Association‐Thailand

Moderator

Ms. Khin Ohmar
Burma Partnership

Organized by Forum-Asia, the International Federation for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, Burma Partnership and Altsean-Burma.

Refreshments will be served.
For further information, please contact Ms. Pooja Patel, FORUM‐ASIA
(Tel: +41‐ (0)22‐740‐2947 / Email: una@forum‐asia.org)

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