More

    Stop weapons supply to Myanmar, rights expert urges

    Civil societyHuman rightsStop weapons supply to Myanmar, rights expert urges
    - Advertisment -

    Stop weapons supply to Myanmar, rights expert urges

    Conditions have ‘worsened’ in Myanmar following a military coup in February 2021, according to a UN human rights rapporteur.

    Weapons exports to the military rulers in Myanmar by UN Member States must stop, the UN independent expert on the human rights situation in the country said on Tuesday.

    In a report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews insisted that these arms had been used against civilians.

    He also called for the UN Security Council to convene an emergency session to vote on a resolution to ban this trade.

    - Advertisement -
    Transfers ‘shock the conscience’

    “It should be incontrovertible that weapons used to kill civilians should no longer be transferred to Myanmar. These transfers truly shock the conscience,” Mr. Andrews said in a statement.

    “Stopping the junta’s atrocity crimes begins with blocking their access to weapons. The more the world delays, the more innocent people, including children, will die in Myanmar.”

    Mr. Andrews identified China, Russia and Serbia as countries that have supplied weapons to Myanmar’s military rulers since they seized power in a coup last February.

    The weapons include fighter jets, armoured vehicles, rockets and artillery.

    Families in the crosshairs

    “The people of Myanmar are imploring the UN to act,” said Mr. Andrews. “They deserve an up-or-down vote on a Security Council resolution that will stop the sale of weapons being used to kill them. Too many families are finding themselves in the crosshairs of weapons of war that Member States are supplying. This must end.”

    The report also names countries that have authorized weapons transfers to Myanmar since 2018, a time he said when military atrocity crimes against the Rohingya ethnic minority were widely documented.

    It further calls for coordinated action by countries to cut the junta’s access to revenue.

    Mr. Andrews urged the Security Council to take action.

    “I appeal to Member States of the UN Security Council who are appalled by the killing of Myanmar civilians to put forward a resolution to stop it,” he said.

    “Transparency matters. The Security Council should consider, at the very least, a resolution to ban weapons that are being used by the Myanmar military to kill innocent people.”

    Special Rapporteurs like Mr. Andrews are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on specific country situations or thematic issues.

    They operate in their individual capacity and are neither UN staff nor do they receive a salary from the Organization.

     

    Image: ADB

    - Advertisement -

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here

    Latest news

    War, huh, Yeah, What is it Good For?

    One should, nevertheless, keep in mind that war is horrific. It is most often not the answer. When it is, it is always the very last resort after all other means to resolve adverse situations have been well and truly exhausted.

    World Bank Unveils $1 Billion Package to Spur Jobs and Private Sector Growth in Sri Lanka

    Tourism, one of Sri Lanka’s key economic drivers, is set to receive $200 million. These funds will be used to protect and enhance natural and cultural heritage sites, create employment opportunities, and ensure local communities benefit directly from tourism revenues.

    UN Secretary-General Urges Military restraint from India, Pakistan

    He offered his good offices to both governments to help defuse tensions and promote diplomacy, stressing that “a military solution is no solution.”

    India Showcases SVAMITVA at World Bank Land Conference

    India’s interventions across these sessions aim to serve as a call to action for other nations striving to achieve SDG Target 1.4.2 which aims to ensure legal ownership and control over land for all, especially vulnerable communities.
    - Advertisement -

    WHO Warns of Deepening Health Crisis in Afghanistan as Aid Dwindles

    The decline in support follows the suspension of US assistance, which previously accounted for nearly half of the international funding directed toward Afghanistan’s healthcare.

    Clean Ganga Mission Approves Key Projects for Ganga Rejuvenation via Ecosystem Testoration

    Conservation of critical wetlands and promoting the reuse of treated wastewater through city specific reuse plans and were deliberated in the meeting.

    Must read

    War, huh, Yeah, What is it Good For?

    One should, nevertheless, keep in mind that war is horrific. It is most often not the answer. When it is, it is always the very last resort after all other means to resolve adverse situations have been well and truly exhausted.

    World Bank Unveils $1 Billion Package to Spur Jobs and Private Sector Growth in Sri Lanka

    Tourism, one of Sri Lanka’s key economic drivers, is set to receive $200 million. These funds will be used to protect and enhance natural and cultural heritage sites, create employment opportunities, and ensure local communities benefit directly from tourism revenues.
    - Advertisement -

    More from the sectionRELATED
    Recommended to you