Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia

06/23/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/23/2022 02:09

VISIT OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN MYANMAR TO MALAYSIA, 17 – 23 JUNE 2022

VISIT OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN

MYANMAR TO MALAYSIA, 17 - 23 JUNE 2022

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Mr Thomas Andrews, visited Malaysia from 17 to 23 June 2022. Malaysia is the first country in the region to receive the Special Rapporteur.

The visit reflects our serious commitment to finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis in Myanmar including the crisis in Rakhine, which has led to one of the biggest refugee situations in the region in recent years. The situation in Myanmar is also crucial to ASEAN's security and stability.

While in Malaysia, the Special Rapporteur had the opportunity to engage with the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato' Sri Saifuddin Abdullah and Government officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also met officials from the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development; the Parliamentary Select Committee on International Affairs and Parliamentary Select Committee on Women, Children Affairs and Social Development; National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM); as well as civil society and community-based organisations.

The Special Rapporteur also held a roundtable discussion at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) on "Human Rights in Myanmar: Perspectives and Realities" and addressed the "High-level Roundtable on Refugee Education: Moving the Agenda Forward" in commemoration of World Refugee Day, organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia (APPGM), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM).

The visit was aimed at better understanding the perspective and approach of Malaysia and ASEAN on the situation in Myanmar. Following the visit, the Special Rapporteur acknowledged ASEAN's central role and commended Malaysia's part though the leadership of the Hon. Foreign Minister in this endeavour.

The Special Rapporteur will be presenting an oral report of his visit to Malaysia during the 50thSession of Human Rights Council in Geneva on 29 June 2022. The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar is appointed by the Human Rights Council and serves in his personal capacity.

PUTRAJAYA

23 JUNE 2022