
We, Women’s Peace Network, welcome the UN Security Council’s recent adoption of a resolution on Myanmar, or resolution 2669 (2022).
As was urged in our previous letters to the Security Council following the 1 February 2021 attempted coup, this resolution highlights our calls for the immediate release of the over 13,000 political prisoners; respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; the upholding of democratic institutions; the need for safe and unhindered humanitarian access; and an immediate end to all forms of violence in the country.
We also appreciate the Security Council’s acknowledgement of the dire situation of Rohingya, who include the over 600,000 in Myanmar and over one million seeking refuge across seas and lands. Resolution 2669 (2022) clearly underscores the Rohingya’s collective need for immediate and sustained international efforts to ensure their protection and assistance, as well as a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return to their homes in Arakan, Myanmar.
While we recognise the efforts of the UK and other member states who contributed to the resolution’s drafting process, we remain deeply concerned that the Security Council continues to fall short of upholding its mandate, as well as the responsibility to protect, and the women, peace and security agendas, in effectively addressing the worsening human rights and humanitarian catastrophe in Myanmar.
Resolution 2669 (2022) demonstrates this shortcoming by not including measures against the party who is solely responsible for this catastrophe: the Burmese military. Over decades, the atrocities that have been committed by this party have evidently posed an extreme threat to international peace and stability.
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These atrocities have been described by key UN entities, including the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the independent international fact-finding mission on Myanmar, as amounting to crimes against humanity, war crimes and – against Rohingya – genocide.
It is thus regrettable that the Security Council did not take advantage of this historic moment to impose a global arms embargo on Myanmar, as well as targeted economic sanctions and financial penalties against the Burmese military and its related businesses.
Most importantly, resolution 2669 (2022) could have included measures to bring justice and accountability to all the people in Myanmar, especially the Rohingya and other ethnic and religious minorities, and marginalised and vulnerable communities.
These measures should involve a referral of the situation of Myanmar to the International Criminal Court or the establishment of a special or ad-hoc tribunal to prosecute the Burmese military for its serious violations of international law.
In line with the Security Council’s women, peace and security agenda, these measures should also include accountability mechanisms to specifically address the military’s widespread and intensifying use of sexual and gender-based violence.
By implementing such measures in this resolution, the Security Council could have encouraged the international community to collectively acknowledge the central role of justice and accountability in achieving peace, stability and security in Myanmar – and across the world.
In this vein, the Security Council must recognise that Asean cannot be relied on to pursue the aforementioned measures, even those included in resolution 2669 (2022). We emphasise that Asean’s five-point consensus has been effectively nullified by the Myanmar junta’s repeated violations of its provisions since its issuance; and that Asean, as an institution, remains committed to this failed initiative despite the commendable efforts of Malaysia, Indonesia, and other countries.
The Security Council, as well as the wider international community, should not entrust Asean with the momentous task of bringing peace and security to Myanmar when the institution itself is failing to review, reassess, and revise its approach. For lasting peace and stability in the region, we thus hope that the resolution’s reporting requirements regarding Asean and its five-point consensus will bring about more practical actions on the country.
Nearly two years since the attempted coup, and over five years since the attacks of genocide against the Rohingya, the UN Security Council should be commended for finally beginning to address the situation in Myanmar. However, the Security Council must realise that, unless the Burmese military is held accountable and justice is served to all its victims and survivors, peace, stability, and security cannot be achieved across the country and beyond.
We urge the international community to support all the people in Myanmar and act for their resolute calls for justice, peace, and freedom.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme