Steps towards ICCPR ratification and implementation by Myanmar

Published on 11 Jun 2019, 07:19 AM

1.5-day workshop on ICCPR held with State actors on 5 & 6 June 2019 in Nay Pyi Taw

the workshop was opened by U Chan Aye, Director-General of the International Organizations and Economic Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar

Since 2016, CCPR-Centre has been engaging with national stakeholders in Myanmar to assist their efforts to join and implement ICCPR. With the support of the embassy of Switzerland in Myanmar, the Centre is continuing its engagement through a multi-year project to increase readiness of Myanmar to ratify and implement the Covenant, following up and building upon the results and outcomes of previous one, carried out through the support of UK FCO.

In the framework of this continued engagement, the Centre, in co-operation with the Ministry of Foreign Affaris of Myanmar (Internaitonal Organizations and Economic Department, IOED) has organised 1.5-day workshop on ICCPR on 5 and 6 June 2019, in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The workshop was opened by the Director General of IOED MoFA Myanmar, U Chan Aye, and facilitated by Mr. Mauro Politi, former member of the UN HR Committee as well as Mr. Daisuke Shirane, Asia Pacific Coordinator of the CCPR-Centre. The purpose of the workshop was to further deepen the understanding of ICCPR and to increase readiness of Myanmar to sign ICCPR.

It was attended by 50 participants from following State bodies:

Pyithu Hluttaw
Amyotha Hluttaw
Union Supreme Court
Union Election Commission
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
General Administration Department
Myanmar Police Force / Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Border Affairs
Ministry of Office of the State Counsellor
Ministry of Information
Ministry of Office of the Union Government
Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture
Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Health and Sports
Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement
Ministry of Ethnic Affairs
Union Attorney-General Office
Myanmar National Human Rights Commission
Yangon University
Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies

the workshop was facilitated by Mr. Mauro Politi, former member of UN HR Committee

The workshop provided in-depth explanation of each article of ICCPR (articles 1 – 27) and examples of related issues on the ground. Participants have also engaged in the inter-active and constructive dialogue with facilitators to clarify any remaining concerns and challenges towards signing of ICCPR and to identify further steps for ratification and effective implementation of the Covenant.

CCPR-Centre plans to carry out further activities to increase the capacity of stakeholders in Myanmar to protect and promote civil and political rights in Myanmar including strengthening national mechanism on reporting and follow-up as well as providing tools for effective monitoring.