Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar
Introduction
1. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar was established pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1992/58, and was recently extended by Human Rights Council resolution 19/21. The present report is submitted pursuant to Council resolution 19/21 and General Assembly resolution 67/233, and covers human rights developments in Myanmar since the Special Rapporteur’s report to the Council (A/HRC/19/67) in March 2012 and to the Assembly (A/67/383) in October 2012.
2. From 11 to 16 February 2013, the Special Rapporteur conducted his seventh mission to Myanmar and met, in Naypyitaw, the Minister for Home Affairs, the Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, the Attorney General, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Deputy Minister for Border Affairs, the Deputy Chief Justice and other justices of the Supreme Court, as well as several members of parliament and parliamentary committees. In Yangon, he met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, members of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, civil society, prisoners of conscience held in Insein prison, former detainees from Buthidaung Prison, the United Nations country team and the diplomatic community. He also visited Yangon University and met with the Dean and students, and visited the offices of the Myanmar Times.
3. He visited Rakhine State, where he met state authorities and community leaders. He visited camps for displaced persons for both Buddhist and Muslim communities in Sittwe, Myebon and Pauk Taw and visited Sittwe Prison. He also visited Kachin State, where he met state authorities and civil society, visited camps for displaced persons in Myitkyina and Waingmaw and visited Myitkyina Prison. He expresses thanks to the Government of Myanmar for its cooperation during the visit.
4. He visited Japan from 7 to 10 February and met with representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and civil society organisations. He also visited Thailand from 17 to 18 February and met with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, civil society, United Nations regional and national offices and the diplomatic community. He is grateful to the Governments of Japan and Thailand for their cooperation.
5. The Special Rapporteur expresses thanks to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva, Bangkok and New York, for assisting him in discharging his mandate.
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