Human Rights Council: 43rd Regular Session
Salle XX, Palais des Nations
10 March 2020
Agenda Item 4: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar
Speaking time: 1 min. 30 sec.
Thank you, Madam Vice-President.
The Philippines notes the report of the Special Rapporteur (SR). The SR highlighted in her report the withdrawal of cooperation by the Myanmar government with her mandate. Cooperation is a two-way process where the mandate is similarly expected to extend constructive assistance to the concerned country, being the primary duty bearer, toward improving human rights conditions on the ground. This trust deficit merits reflection on whether or not this end of the responsibilities is being fulfilled by the mandate.
It is regrettable that the SR, instead of encouraging domestic accountability efforts, in line with the principles of international law, has consistently assailed the credibility of the Independent Commission of Enquiry since its inception. In her present report, the SR cast doubt on the government’s ability to act on the Commission’s recommendations, expressed fear that the Commission “would only perpetuate impunity”, and advised the international community not to the accept the Commission’s report.
We wish to point out that the Commission so happened to be the only fact-finding body with credible in-country information from first-hand sources, an essential methodology which not even the Special Rapporteur, Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar (FFM), or Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIM) could claim to have employed in their report preparation.
We acknowledge Myanmar’s commitment to hold perpetrators to account and emphasize the need to allow the ongoing domestic criminal justice processes to run their course. We call on the international community to constructively assist Myanmar’s democratic transition and efforts to implement durable solutions.
Thank you, Madam Vice-President. END.