Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar

By United Nations Human Rights Council • March 19, 2013

A/HRC/22/L.20/Rev.1

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights, and reaffirming previous resolutions on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, the most recent being Human Rights Council resolution 19/21 of 23 March 2012 and General Assembly resolution 67/233 of 24 December 2012,

Welcoming the work and reports of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar,1 as well as the cooperation of the Government of Myanmar with the Special Rapporteur, including the facilitation of his visits to the country from 30 July to 4 August 2012 and from 11 to 16 February 2013,

Recalling Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, on institution-building of the Council, and 5/2, on the code of conduct for special procedures mandate holders of the Council, of 18 June 2007, and stressing that the mandate holder shall discharge his or her duties in accordance with those resolutions and the annexes thereto,

Welcomes the continued positive developments in Myanmar and the stated commitment of the Government of Myanmar to continue the path of political reform, democratization and national reconciliation and the promotion and protection of human rights;
Also welcomes the continued engagement of the Government of Myanmar with political actors within Parliament, civil society and opposition parties, and urges the Government to continue electoral reform and to pursue an inclusive and sustained dialogue with the democratic opposition and political, ethnic and civil society groups and actors, leading to national reconciliation and lasting peace in Myanmar;
Further welcomes the increasing space for political activity, assembly, speech and the press, including the establishment of an interim press council to help resolve media disputes and to draft a new media law, and encourages the Government to fulfil its commitment to carry out comprehensive media reform to allow for free and independent media, including the broadcast media, and to ensure the safety, security and freedom of human rights defenders to pursue their activities;
Expresses concern about remaining human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, forced displacement, land confiscations, rape and other forms of sexual violence, torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, as well as violations of international humanitarian law, and urges the Government of Myanmar to step up its efforts to put an end to such violations and to take necessary measures to ensure accountability and end impunity, including by undertaking a full, transparent and independent investigation into all reports of violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, while also calling for proper investigations into detention and prison conditions and allegations of the use of torture in prisons;

Download the full resolution here.