Myanmar: civil society workshop on ICCPR ratification

Myanmar: towards ICCPR ratification and implementation (3)

Published on 03 Mar 2020, 01:43 PM

Civil society workshop on effective advocacy towards ratification of ICCPR by Myanmar

In the framework of its multi-year project to assist efforts of national stakeholders in Myanmar in joining and implementing ICCPR, CCPR-Centre, in cooperatoin with Democracy Reporting International (DRI) and Equality Myanmar (EQMM), organised a 1-day civil society workshop on effective advocacy for the ratification of ICCPR by Myanmar on 26 February 2020 in Yangon.

The workshop aimed to strengthen the capacity of civil society actors in Myanmar to protect and promote civil and political rights in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), in particular, to:

Deepen understanding among participants about the ICCPR and its provisions including relevant international mechanisms;
Clarify confusion and misunderstanding about the ICCPR and its mechanism and the difference between ICCPR / HR Committee and other standards, bodies and mechainsms including ICJ and ICC
Provide practical information to utilise the initial review of Myanmar under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) for the protection of civil and political rights as well as for the advocacy for ICCPR ratification by Myanmar
Develop effective strategy and cooperation for the earliest ratification of the ICCPR by Myanmar

The workshop was attended by 50 participants from more than 30 national civil society organisations, in particular members of the ICCPR Action Group, a coalition of national CSOs working on ICCPR ratification and implementation. It was opened by Eva Gil - Country Representative DRI, and jointly facilitated by May Phoo Pwint Aung - Project Coordinator EQMM, Daisuke Shirane - Asia Pacific Coordinator CCPR-Centre and Patrick Mutzenberg - Director CCPR-Centre.

Participants were able to ellaborate on joint actoin plan for the advocacy towards ICCPR ratification. It was a great opportunity for all participants from different organisations and areas to come together, share views and updates, and discuss possible cooperation and collaboration. Various ideas were tabled, analysed and shaped into concrete plan of action.