PRST/23/1 Situation of human rights in Myanmar as regards Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State and other Muslims

GE.13-15298

Human Rights Council Twenty-third session Agenda item 1 Organizational and procedural matters

Statement by the President∗

PRST 23/1. Situation of human rights in Myanmar as regards Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State and other Muslims

At the 40th meeting, held on 14 June 2013, the President of the Human Rights Council read out the following statement:

“The Human Rights Council:

(a) Expresses deep concern at the gross violations of human rights in Myanmar, in particular against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State and other Muslims in Myanmar;

(b) Acknowledges the statement made by President U Thein Sein on 28 March 2013, in which he guaranteed that all perpetrators of violence would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and notes the establishment of the Central Committee for Implementation of Stability and Development in Rakhine State following the report of the independent commission of investigation on Rakhine;

(c) Recalls the various statements made by the Secretary-General, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Myanmar and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar in which they urged the authorities of Myanmar to protect the civilian population from violence and to ensure full respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the statement made by the High Commissioner in her briefing to the Human Rights Council on 27 May 2013;

(d) Urges the Government of Myanmar to take immediate measures to put an end to all acts of violence based on religion and all violations of human rights, including against Muslims, and calls upon political and religious

∗ The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of the Council on its twenty-third session (A/HRC/23/2), chap. I.

leaders in the country to give precedence to peaceful resolution through dialogue;

(e) Calls upon the Government of Myanmar to take all necessary measures to ensure accountability and to end impunity for all violations of human rights that take place, including violence based on religion, including against Muslims, by undertaking a full, transparent and independent investigation into reports of all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law;

(f) Also calls upon the Government of Myanmar, in conjunction with the international community and in accordance with international law, to ensure the return of all refugees and persons displaced from their homes, including Muslims;

(g) Urges the Government of Myanmar to take all necessary measures to prevent the destruction of places of worship, cemeteries, infrastructure and commercial or residential buildings belonging to all peoples;

(h) Urges the Government of Myanmar to grant full citizenship rights, in keeping within a transparent due process, to Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State, including by reviewing the 1982 Citizenship Law;

(i) Calls upon the Government of Myanmar to ensure full cooperation with all parties and to allow full access of humanitarian assistance to affected persons and communities, and in this regard, urges the Government to implement the various cooperation agreements not yet implemented made between the authorities of Myanmar and the international community for the distribution of humanitarian aid to all affected areas, including Rakhine State, without any discrimination;

(j) Also calls upon the Government of Myanmar to speed up the process of establishing a country office in accordance with the mandate of the High Commissioner;

(k) Encourages the Government of Myanmar to continue to engage with the Human Rights Council on this matter.”