50th session of the Human Rights Council
Item 2: Interactive dialogue on the oral update of the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, delivered by H.E. Ambassador Darius Staniulis, Permanent Representative of Lithuania in Geneva
Thank you, Mr. President,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden and my own country Lithuania.
Ferocious shelling and air strikes continue demolishing civilian infrastructure, leaving many persons forcibly displaced, injured or killed. The humanitarian and human rights crisis is grave.
The Nordic-Baltic countries condemn in the strongest terms the ongoing cruelty and call upon the Myanmar military and security forces to immediately end all forms of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, arbitrary detentions, torture and extrajudicial executions. The civilian population, including the Rohingya and persons belonging to other ethnic and religious minorities, must be protected. Perpetrators must be held to account and persisting impunity has to end.
We also urge Myanmar’s military authorities to immediately and permanently halt the imposition of the death penalty and commute all capital sentences handed down to date.
We reiterate our urgent call on the military and security forces to fully cooperate with the UN human rights and international mechanisms and to allow unhindered humanitarian access to protect all persons in need.
The Nordic-Baltic countries continue to support the implementation of the ASEAN 5-point consensus and the efforts of the ASEAN Special Envoy together with the UN Special Envoy as the fundamental means toward a peaceful solution, democracy and the rule of law.
Madam High Commissioner,
How can we better protect the victims, especially people in the most vulnerable situations and help to ensure justice and accountability for past and ongoing human rights violations and abuses?
I thank you.