OHCHR
As powerful actors in the current fragile and deteriorating context in Myanmar, businesses must uphold their human rights responsibilities and put pressure on the military junta to halt grave human rights violations, UN experts said today.
The coup of 1 February has placed businesses with operations or business relations in Myanmar in a challenging situation. While some businesses have reiterated their public support for the rule of law and human rights, and cut ties with the junta, many continue to engage in business with the military as if nothing has happened, they said.
As the military junta is intensifying its campaign of repression against its own people in Myanmar, the experts urged companies to act in line with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to avoid contributing to human rights violations, or becoming complicit in crimes if they continue to operate in Myanmar.
Thursday, 13 May 2021, 6:26 am
GENEVA (12 May 2021) – As powerful actors in the
current fragile and deteriorating context in Myanmar,
businesses must uphold their human rights responsibilities
and put pressure on the military junta to halt grave human
rights violations, UN experts said today.
The coup of
1 February has placed businesses with operations or business
relations in Myanmar in a challenging situation. While some
businesses have reiterated their public support for the rule
of law and human rights, and cut ties with the junta, many
continue to engage in business with the military as if
nothing has happened, they said.
As the military junta
Statement by Thomas H. Andrews UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar United Nations Human Rights Council
Format
Madam President, Distinguished members of the United Nations Human Rights Council,
One month ago, I addressed this body in a special session on the crisis in Myanmar. At that time, ten days after the illegal military coup d’état had begun, I reported that the junta had murdered one individual and arbitrarily detained over 200. In the written report that I filed last week, I documented a total of 23 murders. Credible reports indicate that, as of today, Myanmar security forces have murdered at least 70 people.