36 groups demand UN sitting on Rohingya crisis

The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), with 35 other organisations, has called for a special session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on the refugee crisis in Myanmar.

"We the undersigned human rights organisations, strongly support calls for a UNHRC special session on the deteriorating human rights situation in Myanmar and urge your delegations to support holding such a session as soon as possible," said the open letter, dated November 21, addressed to the UNHRC.

The letter has been signed by Amnesty International; Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development; Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, South Africa; CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizenship Participation; and Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Indonesia, among others.

"In light of serious reports of human rights violations, including crimes against humanity, committed by Myanmar security forces - including unlawful killings, rape and other crimes of sexual violence, widespread burning and destruction of Rohingya homes and property, mass deportations and the unlawful use of antipersonnel landmines...

"...A special session is imperative to launch decisive action and ensure international scrutiny and monitoring of the situation," the groups said.

The letter appealed to the UNHRC to adopt a resolution that would call upon the Myanmar government to "immediately cease all human rights violations, including crimes against humanity" and allow human rights groups "full and unfettered access to all parts of the country".

--IANS

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