UN / MYANMAR

Issuing a new report on the situation of minorities in Myanmar, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein urged the government to take concrete steps to end the “systemic discrimination” and ongoing human rights violations against minority communities, particularly the Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state. UNIFEED-UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:35
• Production Date: 20 June 2016
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: FARHAN HAQ; ZEID RA'AD AL HUSSEIN
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: MYANMAR
• MAMS Id: 1650166
• Parent Id: 1650166
• Alternate Title: unifeed160620c

Description

STORY: UN / MYANMAR
TRT: 01:35
SOURCE: UNIFEED - UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 20 JUNE 2016, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, United Nations headquarters

20 JUNE 2016, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, presser
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General:
“The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, has urged the new government in Myanmar to take concrete steps to put an end to the systemic discrimination and ongoing human rights violations against minorities. A new report released by his office today on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar documents a wide range of human rights violations and abuses, including arbitrary deprivation of nationality, severe restrictions on freedom of movement, threats to life and security, and denial of rights to health and education.”
4. Med shot, journalist
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General:
“The High Commissioner added that although the new government has inherited a situation where laws and policies have been designed to deny fundamental rights to minorities, top priority must be given to halt ongoing violations and prevent further ones taking place against Myanmar’s ethnic and religious minorities. He added that he is encouraged by the congoing constructive dialogue with the Government and looks forward to helping the authorities implement some of the recommendations in the report.”
6. Med shot, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General:
“The High Commissioner himself has been part of an ongoing dialogue, which, as I mentioned right now, is a constructive one with the new authorities that have come in. So he is hoping that we can make some progress and he wants that dialogue to continue.”
8. Wide shot, end of presser

Storyline

Issuing a new report on the situation of minorities in Myanmar, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein today (20 June) urged the government to take concrete steps to end the “systemic discrimination” and ongoing human rights violations against minority communities, particularly the Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state.

Reading from a prepared statement, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said the report “documents a wide range of human rights violations and abuses, including arbitrary deprivation of nationality, severe restrictions on freedom of movement, threats to life and security, and denial of rights to health and education.”

According to Haq, “the High Commissioner added that although the new government has inherited a situation where laws and policies have been designed to deny fundamental rights to minorities, top priority must be given to halt ongoing violations and prevent further ones taking place against Myanmar’s ethnic and religious minorities.”

The spokesperson noted that the High Commissioner has been part of an ongoing “constructive” dialogue with the new authorities and “wants that dialogue to continue.”

The report also raises the possibility that the pattern of violations against the Rohingya may amount to crimes against humanity.

Among the report’s findings is that in northern Rakhine state, ‘arbitrary arrest and detention of Rohingya remains widespread. Arrests are often carried out without grounds, formal processing or charges, until release is secured by payment of a bribe. For those formally charged, fair trial guarantees are often not respected.’

Rakhine has one of the lowest literacy rates in the country, and non-citizens, including Rohingya, are excluded from studying certain professions including medicine, economics and engineering. Some 30,000 Muslim children in IDP camps depend on temporary learning spaces supported by humanitarian organizations. “The consequences of lost years of education are devastating for future livelihood opportunities and the ability of Rohingya and Kaman youth to contribute to Myanmar’s development,” the report states.