Myanmar: UN human rights expert issues report and urges decisive, unified action to put an end to brutality
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GENEVA (4 March 2021) – The UN’s human rights expert on Myanmar said in a report published today the military junta in the country is illegal, illegitimate and responsible for widespread and systematic human rights violations against nonviolent, peaceful protesters, and should be held accountable.
In the report to the Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, details how the Myanmar military illegally overthrew the civilian government and proceeded to attack the people of Myanmar by committing the crimes of murder, assault and arbitrary detention.
GENEVA (5 March 2021) – UN human rights experts today deplored the disproportionate prison terms handed to exiled senior leaders of the disbanded Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) and called on the Government to protect freedoms of association and expression to ensure democratic processes and political activities.
The experts said the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s verdict could potentially deprive their right to engage in public affairs. Since June 2019, more than 150 people associated with the CNRP have been arrested detained, and subjected to judicial proceedings.
On 1 March, the court convicted nine senior leaders of the former CNRP in absentia on charges related to “attempt to commit a felony” and “attack and endanger institutions of the Kingdom of Cambodia” under Articles 27 and 451 of the Cambodian Penal Code. This is related to their plan to return to the country to take part in Cambodia’s political life, which was publicised on social
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UN expert: Water crisis is worsening, urgent response needed
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GENEVA (3 March 2021) – A UN human rights expert today called for a robust and rapid global response to the world’s worsening water crisis, saying that climate change had become a “risk multiplier” - exacerbating pollution, scarcity and disasters.
“The world faces a water crisis and it is getting worse,” David Boyd, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, said in a report presented to the Human Rights Council. “Human use of water, water pollution and the degradation of aquatic ecosystems continue to accelerate because of population growth, economic growth, the climate emergency, land-use change, extractivism, inefficient use of water, and weak planning, regulation and enforcement.
Permanent state of emergency cannot be used as a justification or ground for unilateral sanctions
GENEVA (4 March 2021) - Emergency declarations by the U.S. Government that authorise unilateral sanctions are resulting in severe human rights violations and must be brought in line with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), UN human rights experts said.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights obliges states to protect a wide range of human rights. While it allows governments to suspend the protection of certain rights during emergencies, this can only occur when the very existence of states is endangered. The states may suspend the protection of rights only where necessary to deal with the emergency, and only for as long as the emergency exists.