UNITED NATIONS THIRD COMMITTEE: INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE:
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR, SPECIAL ENVOY, INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIVE MECHANISM ON MYANMAR
29 October 2024
Thank you Chair.
As an international community we must increase our focus on the crisis in Myanmar, which is having terrible effects on the Myanmar people and impacting the stability of the region.
We strongly support the work of the Special Rapporteur, the Secretary General’s Special Envoy and the Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar. We welcomed the recent visit to Australia by the Special Rapporteur.
We are deeply concerned by the findings in the Secretary General’s latest report on the human rights of the Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar, which details that over 5,000 civilians, including 600 children, have been killed since the coup. One third of the population (18.6 million people) now needs humanitarian assistance.
Australia wants to see more humanitarian support for the people of Myanmar and much greater humanitarian access across the country.
However, we know humanitarian assistance cannot end the crisis.
The regime must change course and stop its brutal attacks on civilians. We are dismayed by credible reports of indiscriminate aerial attacks and sexual and gender-based violence. The regime must also return Myanmar to the path of inclusive democracy.
Australia supports accountability for atrocities committed in Myanmar and welcomes the work of the Investigative Mechanism.
We have imposed sanctions and an arms embargo and we continue to call for a global arms embargo.
We remain strong supporters of ASEAN's leadership as a key element in responding to the crisis in Myanmar.
Our question is for all briefers: what more can the international community do to support the people of Myanmar and return Myanmar to peace and civilian-led democratic government?