07/01/2025
Statement of Appreciation To the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights On the Occasion of the 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
HOUSTON, 1 July 2025 - The Arakan Institute for Peace and Human Rights (AiPAH) extends its sincere appreciation to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker TĂĽrk, for his principled leadership and the release of a comprehensive and timely report on the human rights situation in Myanmar (A/HRC/59/57).
The High Commissioner’s report delivers a clear, factual, and courageous analysis of the grave and continuing human rights violations committed by the Myanmar military junta and other armed actors, including the Arakan Army (ULA/AA), with severe impact on the Rohingya population. The report documents egregious abuses—including killings, enforced disappearances, mutilations, arbitrary arrests, torture, village destruction, and widespread displacement—underscoring the extreme vulnerability of Rohingya civilians caught between opposing forces.
We are particularly encouraged by the report’s focus on the ongoing persecution, statelessness, and displacement of the Rohingya people, both within Myanmar and in exile. Its acknowledgment of patterns of violence—amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity—reaffirms the responsibility of the international community to protect marginalized communities and pursue justice through robust mechanisms of accountability.
As a Rohingya-led institution dedicated to peace and human rights, AiPAH is honored that its President, U Shwe Maung and Vice President, U Saw Myint, contributed to the consultation process for this important report. Their engagement, alongside that of other civil society leaders, reflects the importance of inclusive, survivor-centered approaches in shaping effective responses to long-standing human rights crises.
AiPAH fully supports the High Commissioner’s recommendations, including:
The immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners;
The pursuit of justice and accountability through international legal instruments;
The inclusion of all ethnic and religious groups, including the Rohingya, in political dialogue and peacebuilding processes;
The expansion of unhindered humanitarian access to all communities affected by conflict.
We urge Member States of the Human Rights Council to endorse these recommendations and to take decisive action in support of the people of Myanmar—particularly the Rohingya, who have endured decades of systematic persecution, statelessness, and genocide.
The international community must not turn away. Justice delayed is justice denied. AiPAH commends the High Commissioner for his unwavering commitment to truth, accountability, and the fundamental dignity and rights of all people in Myanmar.
Download the PDF here: https://tinyurl.com/2hx5sww8