NGO submissions to the CRC on Burma/Myanmar
Individual Documents
Description:
Submitted to the Members of the
United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child
by
Ethan Taubes, consultant to
the International League for Human Rights
432 Park Avenue South
New York, New York, 10016, U.S.A
July 1996....Executive Summary:
"Myanmar?s initial report demonstrates a serious lack of understanding for the principles
animating the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Through its chronic
omission of virtually all relevant information, it describes a country in which children?s
rights are afforded special protection under national law .With its primary emphasis on
reciting enacted legislation, and with little relevant commentary or factual
documentation to fill the gaps, the report avoids any substantive discussion of what
measures Myan.mar is taking to protect children?s rights and enforce existing laws.
SLORC attempts to mask its noncompliance with the Committee?s reporting guidelinesl
by using the subtitle "Implementation" in each section of its report. However, although
the term "implementation" is continually waved like a talismanic wand at the reader, the
sections usually refer to statutory provisions without providing any material on actual
implementation measures the government is taking or, at least, planning to pursue.
Implementation of the Convention does not"end simply with mechanical incorporation
of the CRC provisions into national law .Legislation is meaningless unless it is
accompanied by concrete administrative codes and guidelines for government agencies
to follow and apply .Legislation must be bolstered by specific policy decisions and by
political will to implement the principles of the Convention.2
Article 44(2) of the CRC requires States parties to include in their reports ". ..sufficient
information to provide the Committee with a comprehensive understanding of the
implementation of the Convention in the country concerned," The Myanmar report fails
to satisfy this basic requirement. As a result, it will be all but impossible for the
Committee to conduct discussions "to analyze progress achieved and factors and
difficulties encountered in the implementation of the Convention," as is the
responsibility of the Committee under its guidelines,3
The Committee should require that Myanmar submit another report within six months,
because the current report is not in compliance with the reporting guidelines established
by the Committee and fails to provide the information necessary for the Committee to
conduct its discussions. For this purpose, the Committee should: (1) emphasize, and
elaborate on, the reporting guidelines previously established in the CRC?s Overview on
Reporting Procedures, and (2) require that Myanmar be more forthcoming in its
reporting, especially in its discussion of implementation measures, and demand that the
SLORC not avoid difficult issues about protecting the rights of the Bumiese child."
Source/publisher:
International League for Human Rights
Date of publication:
1996-07-00
Date of entry/update:
2012-01-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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893.15 KB
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Description:
"This paper is an attempt to investigate how Burma is treating its children. This has been
done through collating already existigg material on the situation of children in Burma.
No ?nev.? interviews or recordings have been done. The material consists of different
reports, papers and books (see bibliography). Because of limited time and language
skills this paper is just an attempt to show the differences between the Child Right?s
Coovention and reality, between what is said by the State Law and Restoration Council
(Slorc) and whatthoy are actually doing..."
Sara Brunnkvist
Source/publisher:
"Burma Issues" via Norwegian Burma Council
Date of publication:
1996-01-00
Date of entry/update:
2012-01-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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pdf
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1.26 MB
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Description:
Submission by Human Rights Watch to the Committee ion the Rights of the Child...
SUMMARY:
"Many children in Burma (Myanmar) are denied their right to education under
article 28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Many are out of school
because their families cannot afford school fees. Large numbers of children,
particularly in ethnic minority areas, are also denied access to education, as armed
conflict has resulted in the closure or destruction of many schools. Large numbers
of children in these areas have been forcibly displaced by the Burma army, with
little or no access to education.
In violation of article 38 of the Convention, forced recruitment of children into
Burma?s national army is systematic and widespread. Children as young as eleven
are forcibly recruited from public places, including marketplaces, bus, ferry, and
rail stations, and the street. During training, these children are subject to routine
and often brutal beatings and systematic humiliation. Once deployed, they often
engage in combat against ethnic armed opposition groups, and are forced to
participate in human rights abuses against civilians. They are frequently beaten
and abused by their commanders and cheated of their wages. They are refused
contact with their families and face severe reprisals if they try to escape.
In violation of article 39, the government makes no programs or assistance
available for the recovery and social reintegration of children who have been
recruited or used as child soldiers."
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Watch
Date of publication:
2003-10-00
Date of entry/update:
2012-01-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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74.94 KB
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Description:
Submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child...Conclusion:
"Though Burma became a state party of CRC and promulgated a Child Law, the situation
of children in education is not progressed. Their right to education is abused due to the lack of
government obligation to child welfare. The poverty, political instability and internal wars are
largely impacted to the education life of children in Burma. Many children are dropouts from
school because of family?s financial situation and poverty, while many children in minority
areas were abused the right to education in consequence of internal wars and military
operation in these areas."
Source/publisher:
Foreign Affairs Committee All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABSFU)
Date of publication:
2003-08-00
Date of entry/update:
2012-01-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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Description:
"...Myanmar is estimated to have one of the largest numbers of child soldiers of any country in the world, with the
overwhelming majority serving in the national army, the Tatmadaw.1 Although the minimum age for conscripts is 18,
Human Rights Watch has estimated that children may account for 35 to 45 per cent of new recruits into the national
army, or 70,000 or more of Myanmar?s estimated 350,000 soldiers.
The government has not ratified the OP-CRC-CAC.
Child soldiers, including those under the age of 15, are also present in armed opposition groups..."
Source/publisher:
Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers (re-named Child Soldiers International)
Date of publication:
2004-02-17
Date of entry/update:
2012-01-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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47.89 KB
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SUBMISSION TO THE COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
For the Examination of the 2nd periodic State Party Report
-MYANMAR.....
"...The Muslim population of Rakhine State, known as Rohingya2 and closely related to
the Chittagonian people of Southern Bangladesh, is being discriminated against on
the basis of their ethnicity and religion. They have been excluded from the nationbuilding
process in Myanmar and the military regime has implemented policies of
exclusion and discrimination against this group aimed at encouraging them to leave
the country. These systematic policies have maintained underdevelopment and
have been the driving force behind two mass refugee exoduses to Bangladesh, in
1978 and again in 1991/92. The combination of human right violations the Rohingya
face -- from the denial of legal status to restriction of movement and economic
constraints -- creates food insecurity and makes life in Northern Rakhine State
untenable for many.
Rohingya children, in particular, are innocent victims suffering from the debilitating
consequences of these government policies, which dramatically affect their physical
and mental development, and will have long-lasting effects for the future of the
Rohingya community..."
Chris Lewa
Source/publisher:
Forum Asia
Date of publication:
2003-11-00
Date of entry/update:
2012-01-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
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151.36 KB
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Description:
"This report provides supplementary information on the 3rd and 4th report of Myanmar on the implementation of the CRC. The Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children submits a briefing to each Pre-sessional Working Group of the Committee on the Rights of the Child. The briefings summarize the legal status of corporal punishment in each of the States to be examined, together with any research evidence of prevalence of corporal punishment. The briefing covers corporal punishment in all settings - the home, alternative care, schools and penal systems."
Source/publisher:
Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children
Date of publication:
2011-06-00
Date of entry/update:
2012-01-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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133.75 KB
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Description:
The government claims that the Tatmadaw Kyi is an all-volunteer force and that the minimum age for
recruitment is 18. However, low salaries and extremely poor working conditions have combined to
create disincentives for voluntary recruitment into the army. The Tatmadaw Kyi military officers and
informal recruiting agents continue to use intimidation, coercion, and physical violence to gain new
recruits, a sizeable number of which are underage. There are no reliable figures on the number of
underage soldiers in the Myanmar army. The Coalition?s information indicates that patterns of
underage recruitment by the Tatmadaw Kyi remain unchanged from those reported previously by UN
and NGO sources, including forced recruitment directly by military officers and informal recruiting
agents. A system of incentives to reward recruiters still exists and the use of tricks, bribery, threats
and force are widely reported. On 4 November 2010, the government gazetted a new military law, the
2010 People?s Military Service Law, which contains provisions for eligible citizens to be called up for
two years military service (or three years? for those with technical skills). It is widely perceived that
this law will not contribute to preventing child recruitment, unless adequate safeguards are
implemented to regulate and professionalise the conscription process.
Source/publisher:
Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers (Child Soldiers International)
Date of publication:
2011-05-00
Date of entry/update:
2012-01-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
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733.46 KB
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Description:
"Suggestions for disability-relevant questions to be included in the list of issues for pre-sessional working group CRC 58th session.
IDA submissions to the CRC Committee highlight the rights of children with disabilities and aim to promote and mainstream the standards of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into the Committee?s work. "
Source/publisher:
International Disability Alliance (IDA)
Date of publication:
2011-02-01
Date of entry/update:
2012-01-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
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218.12 KB
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Description:
Executive Summary:
The Child Rights Forum of Burma (CRFB) is submitting the following report to the Committee on
the Rights of the Child for its review of Burma. Children in Burma face numerous challenges to their
survival and development. For the majority of children access to basic rights such as health care,
food, education, protection from abuse and exploitation are almost non-existent.
CRFB wishes to bring to the Committee?s attention information regarding the following children?s
rights violations by the State Party, all of which impede their chances of development and survival:
• the denial of health care and an adequate standard of living;
• the denial of free and accessible education, and discrimination in access to education;
• pervasive and widespread child labour and forced labour, including portering in the army;
• a failure to protect children from sexual exploitation and trafficking;
• a failure to accord special protection to children affected by armed conflict, including from
ongoing violations of international humanitarian law by the armed forces;
• the recruitment and participation of children in armed conflict;
• the denial of rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly;
• arbitrary arrest, detention and torture, and denial of the rights to a fair trial."
Source/publisher:
Child Rights Forum of Burma
Date of publication:
2011-04-29
Date of entry/update:
2012-01-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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1.62 MB
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Description:
"The UN Security Council (UNSC) has repeatedly recognised the importance of protecting health and education facilities and related personnel from attack, with the passage of resolutions 1612 (2005) and 1998 (2011). Unfortunately, in the context of eastern Burma, UN-led monitoring and reporting pursuant to these resolutions has to date gathered only minimal information regarding such attacks. This briefer is thus designed to contribute information on this question, in the hope that it prompts more systematic international monitoring. After a short introduction, Section I of this briefer details KHRG research methodology; Section II analyses general trends in armed conflict and related violations during the reporting period and Section III analyses 16 particularly illustrative incidents that entailed attacks on schools, clinics and related personnel or children. These incidents were selected from a database detailing 59 recent attacks monitored by KHRG that did or could have placed educational or medical facilities and related personnel at risk of attack. Appendix 1 presents legal analysis to support monitoring attacks in eastern Burma..."
Source/publisher:
Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication:
2011-09-21
Date of entry/update:
2012-01-16
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
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169.7 KB
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Description:
For the Examination of the combined 3rd and 4th periodic State Party
Reports (CRC/C/MMR/3-4)
-MYANMAR - Updated
in January 2012....."...The Muslim population of Northern Rakhine State, known as Rohingya2, constitutes
an ethnic, linguistic and religious minority group in Myanmar. Their number is
estimated at 735,000 or about 91% of the total population of that area3. They are
ethnically related to the Chittagonian Bengalis just across the border in Bangladesh.
The Rohingya are discriminated against on the basis of their ethnicity and religion,
and are subject to systematic state policies of exclusion, restrictions and arbitrary
treatment imposed on them by successive governments over the last few decades.
These policies were the root causes of two mass refugee exoduses to Bangladesh,
in 1978 and again in 1991/92. The outflow has not stopped and today Rohingyas
continue to flee from Myanmar. In addition to 29,000 registered refugees housed in
two refugee camps, Bangladesh currently hosts 200,000 or more unregistered
Rohingya refugees living among local communities. Tens of thousands have also
migrated to Malaysia and the Middle-East, including thousands of boat people.
Rohingya children, in particular, bear the full brunt of the devastating impact of these
policies, which gravely impair their physical and mental development as children and
will affect the long-term future of their community..."
Source/publisher:
The Arakan Project
Date of publication:
2012-01-19
Date of entry/update:
2012-01-16
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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pdf
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712.46 KB
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Description:
Submitted as an Alternative Report to the CRC. Burma acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1991. Since then, however, there has been little progress towards the implementation of the convention, and the underlying problems which impede implementation have not changed. These include a total lack of the rule of law and accountability of the government, as well as draconian restrictions on freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly which prevent local reporting and monitoring of the human rights situation of children. Events of October and December1996 in Burma, which saw hundreds of high school and university students take to the streets to demand the protection of their rights, especially the right to form student unions, highlight the urgent need for reform. Over three hundred students and youths were arrested during the December demonstrations, at least fifty of whom remain unaccounted for. . .
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Watch
Date of publication:
1997-01-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Children's rights: reports of violations in Burma against more than one ethnic group, NGO submissions to the CRC on Burma/Myanmar
Language:
English
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Description:
"[This report was prepared as a submission to the UN Committee which is reviewing SLORC?s observance of the Convention on Rights of the Child, which SLORC ratified in 1991. Under the terms of the Convention, SLORC was required to submit a report to the Committee in 1993, but did not do so until September 1995. Their case comes before the Committee in Oct. 1996 or Jan. 1997. This report was submitted together with a 140-page Annex of excerpts from KHRG reports relating to children. It is reproduced here for general use.]
This summary is intended for consideration by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. It has been prepared partly in response to the report filed by the State Law & Order Restoration Council (SLORC), Burma?s ruling military junta. It does not contain a paragraph-by-paragraph analysis of SLORC?s report, but instead attempts to summarize some of the worst problems facing Burma?s children today and point out some of the most glaring fallacies in the SLORC report. All of the observations and quotations included here are taken from our 4 years of living among and interviewing villagers, refugees and the internally displaced.
In Burma the Tatmadaw (Army) exercises absolute power of life and death over every civilian, including children. Soldiers act with complete impunity, particularly in rural areas, and are not answerable to any laws which exist on paper in Rangoon. Children are often shot on sight in free-fire zones, tortured or executed as "suspected rebels", used for forced labour, forcibly conscripted into the Army and otherwise subject to direct abuse. They also suffer from the destruction of the village environment and the economy under SLORC policies, which are leading to widespread malnutrition and the death of children, the lack of educational opportunities, and other factors which rob them of a childhood..."
Source/publisher:
Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG Articles and Papers)
Date of publication:
1996-05-01
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Children's rights: reports of violations in Burma against more than one ethnic group, NGO submissions to the CRC on Burma/Myanmar
Language:
English
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pdf
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115.54 KB
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