UNITED NATIONS, July 5 (APP): A UN expert has urged the international community to prioritize human rights in Myanmar, particularly in business and investment relations, while drawing attention to the plight of Rohingya Muslims.
“International actors must continue to prioritize human rights, particularly in business and investment relations,” Yanghee Lee, the
UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, said at the end of a visit to Myanmar from June 20 to July 1.
These actors should neither remain silent when confronted with human rights concerns nor become complicit in perpetuating human rights abuses, she said.
“Myanmar’s young democracy can only advance if human rights are
fully mainstreamed into its institutional, legal and policy framework,”
the expert said. “Building a culture of respect for human rights must be
a priority now and in the future.”
Ms Lee visited Kachin, Rakhine and Shan states, recommending that
future political dialogues tackle the root causes of conflict and the long-standing grievances of ethnic communities.
Additionally, she called for an end to the institutionalized discrimination against the Muslim communities in Rakhine state.
“It is clear that tensions along religious lines remain pervasive
across Myanmar society. Incidents of hate speech, incitement to discrimination, hatred and violence, and of religious intolerance
continue to be a cause for concern,” Ms Lee said.
The Special Rapporteur will present her report to the UN General Assembly in October 2016, which will include her observations and recommendations to the government.
