Denmark and Latvia Support UN Burma Inquiry

Two more European countries have expressed support for international investigations into human rights abuses in Burma, following protests in London targeting six European countries. Latvia stated it supports a UN Commission of Inquiry; ‘in principle’, while Denmark stated it; ‘supports in principle the establishment of an international investigation into human rights abuses in Burma […]

Progress report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana

Myanmar undertook national elections for the first time in over two decades on 7 November 2010. One week later, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was released unconditionally upon the end of her house arrest term. The new national parliament began meeting on 31 January 2011. Amidst much uncertainty, there appears to be some cautious optimism that positive change may be possible. Among those changes that the people of Myanmar dare to hope for is the realization of their economic, social and cultural rights. For this reason, the Special Rapporteur begins to address in the present report the subject of economic, social and cultural rights, starting with the right to education.

The Special Rapporteur also reiterates his call for a Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes […]

Leading a Common Approach to the Commission of Inquiry on Burma

Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) and Canadian civil society organizations would like to encourage the Government of Canada to play an active role in the international call for the implementation of a UN ‘Commission of Inquiry’ into gross human rights violations, specifically ‘crimes against humanity’ and ‘war crimes’ in Burma. Such an inquiry could investigate reports of human rights and humanitarian law violations in Burma, through the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, the Security Council, the General Assembly, or the office of the Secretary General […]

First Widespread Survey of Burma’s Chin State Shows Evidence of Crimes Against Humanity

In advance of the Universal Periodic Review of human rights in Burma, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) today announced findings from the first population-based survey to document human rights violations in all nine townships of Chin State. The report, “Life Under the Junta: Evidence of Crimes Against Humanity in Burma’s Chin State,” provides the first quantitative data of human rights violations against the people of Chin State in Western Burma. The report also reveals that at least eight of the violations surveyed fall within the purview of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and may constitute crimes against humanity […]

New Evidence of Abuses in Burma’s Chin State Strengthens Call for UN Commission of Inquiry

The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) today welcomed a new report published by Nobel Peace Prize winning organization Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), “Life Under the Junta: Evidence of Crimes Against Humanity in Burma’s Chin State.”

Using innovative population-based methods to document human rights violations in all nine townships of Chin State, researchers found that almost 92 percent of households surveyed had experienced forced labour at least once in the year prior to interviews […]

Former UN Rapporteurs Call on EU to Support a Commission of Inquiry

On October 5th, former UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights in Burma, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro and Yozo Yokota, sent a letter to Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission. The letter called on the EU to support the establishment of a commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma […]

Lithuania Supports UN Burma Crimes Inquiry

Burma Campaign UK today welcomed Lithuania’s backing for a UN Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed its support directly to Burma Campaign UK.

Lithuania is the 7th member of the European Union to publicly support an inquiry. The other EU members are Czech Republic, UK, Slovakia, Hungary, Netherlands, and France. The non-EU countries supporting an inquiry are Australia, USA, Canada and New Zealand, bringing the global total to eleven […]

NDF Support Recommendation for Forming UN Commission of Inquiry

1. The NDF has earnestly welcome and supported recommendation to the UN by its Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Situation in Burma (Myanmar), Mr. Tomás Ojea Quintana, to form a Commission of Inquiry (COI) for crimes against humanity and war crimes perpetrated by the SPDC military clique. The NDF is ready to cooperate fully with such a UN COI.[…]

France supports a Commission of Inquiry

FIDH, Human Rights Watch, Info-Birmanie and French Human Rights League demand the set-up of an international commission of inquiry

They welcome France’s statement and urge the EU to support this initiative at the UN General Assembly[…]

Letter to Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara calling for the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry

Dear Foreign Minister,
We write to you regarding the serious human rights situation in Burma. We urge Japan to publicly support the establishment of an International Commission of Inquiry for Burma and to support an annual Burma resolution of the upcoming autumn session of the UN General Assembly which includes a support for a United Nations Commission of Inquiry.[…]