NEW DELHI: The United Nations‘ primary human rights body has taken steps to address the situations in Myanmar and Iran, where governments have been accused of using violence against their own citizens.
The Human Rights Council, consisting of 47 member countries, has unanimously supported a measure urging governments to refrain from exporting or selling jet fuel to Myanmar if there are concerns that the military junta could misuse it to violate human rights in the conflict-ridden country.The council has also called for an end to the illicit transfer of weapons and military equipment to Myanmar.
An independent expert appointed by the council recently cautioned that Myanmar’s military government is escalating its attacks on civilians as it faces challenges from pro-democracy and ethnic armed groups on the battlefield. Following the military’s seizure of power over three years ago, violent suppression of nonviolent opposition led to armed resistance and plunged the country into a civil war. Amnesty International has raised concerns about fuel shipments to Myanmar, identifying multiple fuel deliveries to the country last year, including ties to a storage unit in Vietnam.
Vietnam, a current council member, did not oppose the council’s consensus on restricting jet fuel exports to Myanmar. Amnesty International’s representative at the UN in Geneva, Iniyan Ilango, emphasized the significance of the council’s message, stating that supplying jet fuel to those conducting airstrikes as a means of committing war crimes is unacceptable. While acknowledging this as a positive step, Ilango urged the UN Security Council to impose a suspension on direct and indirect aviation fuel shipments to Myanmar to prevent further airstrikes that could amount to war crimes on the ground.
The council is concluding its initial session of the year, addressing various resolutions on topics such as child rights, environmental human rights, genocide prevention, and rights situations in countries like Sudan, Belarus, and North Korea. A resolution set for Friday’s session calls for a halt to weapons shipments to Israel during its military operations in Gaza, responding to attacks by armed militants that resulted in casualties on both sides.
In another decision, the council voted to extend investigations into human rights violations in Iran for another year, focusing on overall rights situations and violations related to protests since September 2022. Germany’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that the vote signals continued global scrutiny of rights abuses in Iran, ensuring accountability for those responsible for violations.
The council also extended separate investigations into human rights conditions in Ukraine, Syria, and South Sudan for another year.
The Human Rights Council, consisting of 47 member countries, has unanimously supported a measure urging governments to refrain from exporting or selling jet fuel to Myanmar if there are concerns that the military junta could misuse it to violate human rights in the conflict-ridden country.The council has also called for an end to the illicit transfer of weapons and military equipment to Myanmar.
An independent expert appointed by the council recently cautioned that Myanmar’s military government is escalating its attacks on civilians as it faces challenges from pro-democracy and ethnic armed groups on the battlefield. Following the military’s seizure of power over three years ago, violent suppression of nonviolent opposition led to armed resistance and plunged the country into a civil war. Amnesty International has raised concerns about fuel shipments to Myanmar, identifying multiple fuel deliveries to the country last year, including ties to a storage unit in Vietnam.
Vietnam, a current council member, did not oppose the council’s consensus on restricting jet fuel exports to Myanmar. Amnesty International’s representative at the UN in Geneva, Iniyan Ilango, emphasized the significance of the council’s message, stating that supplying jet fuel to those conducting airstrikes as a means of committing war crimes is unacceptable. While acknowledging this as a positive step, Ilango urged the UN Security Council to impose a suspension on direct and indirect aviation fuel shipments to Myanmar to prevent further airstrikes that could amount to war crimes on the ground.
The council is concluding its initial session of the year, addressing various resolutions on topics such as child rights, environmental human rights, genocide prevention, and rights situations in countries like Sudan, Belarus, and North Korea. A resolution set for Friday’s session calls for a halt to weapons shipments to Israel during its military operations in Gaza, responding to attacks by armed militants that resulted in casualties on both sides.
In another decision, the council voted to extend investigations into human rights violations in Iran for another year, focusing on overall rights situations and violations related to protests since September 2022. Germany’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that the vote signals continued global scrutiny of rights abuses in Iran, ensuring accountability for those responsible for violations.
The council also extended separate investigations into human rights conditions in Ukraine, Syria, and South Sudan for another year.