Media Advisory – Special Rapporteur on situation of human rights in Myanmar to visit Thailand and Malaysia

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, will visit Thailand and Malaysia from 8-18 July 2019.

“Despite Myanmar’s position, I will continue to reach out and seek to engage to provide the Government with assistance on human rights issues,” the Special Rapporteur said. Myanmar refuses to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur, and will not allow her access to the country.

Lee will hold a news conference at 4 pm on 18 July at the Marriott Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Access will be strictly limited to journalists. The Special Rapporteur will present her findings and recommendations to the 74th session of the General Assembly in New York in October 2019.

ENDS

 Ms. Yanghee Lee (Republic of Korea) was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2014 as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. 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.

 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. Special Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.

UN Human Rights, country page: Myanmar