Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar (oral update)

Agenda Item:4 Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention

27 June, 2018

Joint statement by: International-Lawyers.Org and Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ)

Thank you Mr. President,

We would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for her update and her work on Myanmar, in spite of the impediments she is constantly facing to conduct investigations in the country.

With that said, we would like to stress on the repercussions of climate change on the fulfilment of human rights in Myanmar, on the basis that climate change is one of the most serious threats to human rights, especially for the most vulnerable communities. Myanmar is one of the three most vulnerable countries in the world to the effects of climate change. This country’s economy and society is still largely dependent on agriculture, which is mostly rain-fed. Food and water security are under threat, while increasing temperatures and irregular rain patterns are prone to create favourable conditions for the spread of infectious diseases.

While debates are ongoing regarding the cease of eviction of Rohingya from the Myanmar territory and the potential return of the ones that are in exile, an important question arises: Will Rohingyas want to return to a country where not only grave crimes against them were committed, but also where constant threats to their security caused by climate change are taking place?

International Lawyers.org and Geneva International Centre for Justice urge this Council to ensure that the State of Myanmar not only cooperate with its neighbouring countries to take a new approach to their shared resources, but also adopt protection measures in climate change matters in order to guarantee the fulfilment of the most fundamental human rights for its population, while being inclusive with all ethnicities, and all areas of the country in this protection.

Thank you.