The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW) made the decision at a regular meeting in Geneva last
week, setting a six-month deadline for the submission of the report to the UN
Secretary General. The request was sent to the Government of Myanmar on Monday,
meaning the report should be submitted by 28 May 2018. It is only the fourth
time an exceptional report has been requested by the Committee since holding
its first session in October 1982.
The Committee, comprised of 23 independent human rights
experts drawn from around the world, called on the Government to provide
information on a range of issues surrounding alleged instances of violence
against women and girls in northern Rakhine State in recent months.
As a party to the Convention on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women, Myanmar is obliged to report to the Committee on
its implementation of the treaty.
The Committee requested information concerning cases of
sexual violence, including rape, against Rohingya women and girls by State
security forces; and to provide details on the number of women and girls who
have been killed or have died due to other non-natural causes during the latest
outbreak of violence.
It also requested information on investigations, arrests,
prosecutions, convictions and sentences or disciplinary measures imposed on
perpetrators, including members of the armed forces, found guilty of such
crimes.
The Committee also requested information on:
· the designation of
the battalions that have undertaken the clearance operations in Northern
Rakhine State since 25 August 2017 and under whose command;
· the findings of the
final report of the Tatmadaw investigation team led by Lieutenant-General Aye
Whin concerning the conduct of the armed forces during the security clearance
operations;
· whether instructions
have been or are being issued to all branches of the State security forces that
torture, gender-based violence, including rape and other forms of sexual
violence, expulsions and other human rights violations are prohibited and that
those responsible will be prosecuted and punished;
· the gender-specific
measures taken by the State party to rehabilitate and compensate Rohingya women
and girls who are victims/survivors of such violence;
· the remedies
available to Rohingya women and girls to claim violations of their rights;
· the number of
Rohingya women and girls currently detained by State security forces;
· the number of
Rohingya women and girls who have died during childbirth;
· the number of clinics
providing obstetric services and the ratio of doctors and midwives to the
Rohingya population; and
· the number of
Rohingya families displaced by the violence, disaggregated by sex, and measures
taken by the Government to ensure their voluntary and safe return, economic
reintegration and compensation for loss of land or property.
The report of the Government shall be made public, and
will be reviewed by CEDAW. For further information, please contact Mr. Anganile
Mwenifumbo (amwenifumbo@ohchr.org /+41229179337)
Background
CEDAW is composed of 23
independent human rights experts drawn from around the world, who serve in
their personal capacity and not as representatives of States parties. Countries
who have become party to the treaty (States parties) are obliged to submit
regular reports to the Committee on how the rights of the Convention are
implemented. However, pursuant to article 18, paragraph 1(b), of the Convention
on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (Convention) and decision
21/I dated 17 November 2018 that was adopted during the sixty-eighth session,
CEDAW decided to request the Government of Myanmar to submit an exceptional
report, within six months, on the ongoing situation of Rohingya women and girls
from Northern Rakhine State. The exceptional report, which will be due on 28
May 2018, should be submitted to the Secretary General of the United Nations as
required by article 18, paragraph 1 of the Convention. http://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/cedaw/pages/cedawindex.aspx
ENDS
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