Myanmar: UN Special Rapporteur starts official visit

YANGON / GENEVA (3 August 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, started her third official visit to the country today, from 3 to 7 August.

Ms. Lee will meet with relevant authorities, national institutions, civil society organizations and other stakeholders. The Special Rapporteur is mandated by the Human Rights Council to assess the human rights situation in Myanmar, including information on the progress in the electoral process and reform in the run-up to the November elections.

“Myanmar is at an important juncture. I will continue to carry out the functions of my mandate in a balanced, impartial, and transparent manner,” Ms. Lee stated.

The Special Rapporteur will submit her report* to the UN General Assembly in October 2015.

A press conference will be held at the end of the Special Rapporteur’s visit on Friday 7 August. Details on time and venue will be announced during the course of the visit. Access to the press conference will be strictly limited to journalists.

(*) Check the Special Rapporteur’s previous reports: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?m=89

Ms. Yanghee Lee (Republic of Korea) was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2014. She is independent from any government or organization and serves in her individual capacity. Ms. Lee served as member and chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2003-2011). She is currently a professor at Sungkyunwan University, Seoul, and serves on the Advisory Committee of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. Ms. Lee is the founding President of International Child Rights Center, and serves as Vice-chair of the National Unification Advisory Council. Learn more, go to: http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-myanmar

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights, country page – Myanmar: http://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/myanmar

For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Yangon (during the mission, 3 to 7 August): U Aye Win, National Information Officer (+95 94 210 60343 / wina@un.org)
In Geneva (after the mission): Caroline Avanzo (cavanzo@ohchr.org)

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)

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