Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest assessment of the human rights situation in Myanmar.

Despite considerable progress towards improving the rule of law in Burma in recent years, we remain deeply concerned about ongoing human rights violations by the military in Burma. These include violations of civil and political rights, conflict-related violations including sexual violence, and widespread and systematic discrimination against Muslims in Rakhine State. I raised concerns with the Burmese authorities about a range of human rights issues when I visited in November with a focus on conflict related sexual abuses and Rakhine. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson) made representations at the highest levels to both the civilian and military administration when he visited in January. In addition to political advocacy, the UK co-sponsored a Resolution at the Human Rights Council in March raising international concerns and mandating a UN Fact Finding Mission to look into the recent reports of widespread human rights violations in Rakhine State. We also fund project work through NGOs in Burma that provide practical support to promote human rights on the ground.