Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on the Human Rights Situation in Myanmar
Human Rights Council – 54th Session
Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
As Delivered by Ambassador Michèle Taylor
Thank you, Mr. Vice President.
Thank you, High Commissioner Turk, for your report and your office’s stamina on this issue.
We remain deeply concerned about the worsening human rights situation in Myanmar, where the military continues to commit atrocities and numerous other serious abuses of human rights across the country, with absolute impunity.
The Myanmar military reportedly uses violent repressive tactics such as the arrest of political opponents, extensive lethal violence against unarmed persons, torture, sexual violence, and other egregious abuses.
We call on the military to immediately release all political prisoners and others unjustly detained and cease the targeted use of the death penalty against pro-democracy leaders.
Given the regime’s intransigence and continued human rights violations and abuses, we have urged the Security Council to restrict Member States from exporting arms or jet fuel to the country, items that the Myanmar’s military regime uses to attack its own people.
Restricting the flow of arms and jet fuel will protect civilians in Myanmar and also prevent the regime from continuing to impede the delivery of humanitarian relief to millions of civilians.
What other actions can the international community, particularly the UN, take to meaningfully restrict the Myanmar military’s ability to harm civilians?
I thank you.
###