During the 12th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions in Sydney, 24-27 September 2007, National Human Rights Commissions of five Asian countries issued a statement on human rights situation in Myanmar/Burma. The statement urges Burma to observe human rights principles and ASEAN countries to take action toward the situation.
During the 12th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) in Sydney, 24-27 September 2007, National Human Rights Commissions of five Asian countries issued a statement on the human rights situation in Myanmar/Burma. This is the first time that the commissions collectively release a statement on one specific country.
This statement expresses “grave concern over the precarious human rights situation” of the country, especially “on the suppression of the people’s peaceful protest by the government leading to loss of lives and injuries.” It urges the government of Burma to “observe” the basic principles of human rights.
The statement also encourages the ASEAN governments to “take urgent action” to ensure that Burma respects the human rights of its people and the rule of law.
The National Human Rights Commissions of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand drafted and signed this statement, in association with the Provedor of Timor Leste. The chairpersons and commissioners of the national institutions of Afghanistan, Jordan, Mongolia, New Zealand, Palestine and South Korea have also signed it, as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations including FORUM-ASIA.
APF member institutions, meaning 17 National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) of the Asia Pacific region, meet annually in this meeting. NHRIs are a part of domestic human rights protection mechanisms established by governments. They function independently in accordance with “Paris Principles,” a set of minimum standards adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993. Their major mandate includes investigation into human rights violations and human rights education, as well as policy recommendations on human rights issues.
