Interactive Dialogue with Tom Andrews
Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar
Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
As Delivered by Ambassador Michèle Taylor
Human Rights Council – 51st Session
Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Special Rapporteur Andrews, for your continued and impassioned reporting.
The United States remains deeply concerned by the reports of human rights abuses committed by Myanmar’s military, including torture, sexual violence, and extrajudicial killings.
We condemn in the strongest terms the military’s actions, including the executions of four pro-democracy and elected leaders in July. These acts exemplify the military’s complete disregard for human rights and the rule of law.
The United States calls for coordinated action to impose costs on the military for its violence against the people of Myanmar through an international arms embargo and targeted economic action.
We also call on all member states to urge the military to immediately cease such violence and allow for full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access.
We remain committed to pursuing accountability for those responsible for atrocities and other abuses. To that end, earlier this week, the United States announced an additional contribution of one million dollars to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar.
Mr. Special Rapporteur, like you, I am moved by the heroic commitment of Human Rights Defenders in Myanmar. We heard your call yesterday for all of us to recognize that they are willing to do whatever it takes but that they need us and our support. That they need to know the world hasn’t forgotten them. I was especially moved by this quote you shared: “in this situation we can’t find hope, so we create our own hope.”
Question: Mr. Special Rapporteur, here at the HRC, in order to do more to help inspire that hope, what specific action can we take to support the people of Myanmar, prevent further atrocities, and hasten the release of political prisoners?
I thank you.
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