“International actors must continue to prioritize human rights, particularly in business and investment relations,” said Yanghee Lee, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, at the end of a visit to Myanmar from 20 June to 1 July.
These actors should neither remain silent when confronted with human rights concerns nor become complicit in perpetuating human rights abuses, she said. “Myanmar’s young democracy can only advance if human rights are fully mainstreamed into its institutional, legal and policy framework,” the expert said. “Building a culture of respect for human rights must be a priority now and in the future.” Ms. Lee visited Kachin, Rakhine and Shan States, recommending that future political dialogues tackle the root causes of conflict and the long-standing grievances of ethnic communities. Additionally, she called for an end to the institutionalized discrimination against the Muslim communities in Rakhine State.