All of the staff would be trained on gender issues, and additional staff members specialized in gender violence would be hired. Not a single country had the resources to tackle the pandemic alone. International Labour Organization research showed that women had been, and continued to be, impacted disproportionately by the pandemic – women were heavily represented in sectors with the highest job losses, and decrease in hours, including in the informal economy. While some speakers pointed out that Myanmar had stepped up its efforts to address violations, and set up mechanisms to that end, others said such efforts were insufficient. Other speakers noted that accountability processes were crucial to finding a just and sustainable solution. The UN special rapporteur on Myanmar has called for a global arms embargo, while he and the deputy high commissioner for human rights have voiced support for targeted UN sanctions. The disproportionate impact of the pandemic on people in vulnerable situations, such as people with disabilities, as well as restrictions imposed on media freedoms, were deeply concerning. They warned against the detrimental effect of the pandemic on children, whose exposure to domestic violence for instance, had increased because of COVID-19. "Today, the UK and (the) EU have called for a Special Session of the #UN Human Rights Council on Myanmar on Thursday," Raab tweeted. The Human Rights Council will hold a special session on “the human rights implications of the crisis in Myanmar” on Friday, 12 February. All meeting summaries can be found here. The … Aware of the challenging financial situation, the Mechanism had adjusted its structure and organization, enabling it to propose a leaner budget for 2021. The 47-member council requested the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and a special rapporteur to assess the situation in Myanmar, urging the authorities there to cooperate. By conducting its evidence collection efforts objectively and professionally, it hoped to convince all that only those responsible for crimes had anything to fear from the Mechanism. Speaking were the European Union, Finland, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Canada, Qatar, Afghanistan, Jordan, Brazil, United Nations Children’s Fund, Cuba, Sovereign Order of Malta (video message), UN Women, Germany, Fiji (video message), China, Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Maldives, Portugal, Togo, Sierra Leone, Armenia, Morocco, Mauritania, India, Japan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Senegal, Iraq, Greece, Australia, El Salvador, Mexico, South Africa, Bangladesh, Namibia (video message), Paraguay, Iran, Switzerland, Cameroon, Bahamas, United Nations Population Fund, Republic of Korea, Venezuela, Malta, Nepal, Uruguay, Luxembourg, Malaysia (video message), Spain, Timor-Leste, Mozambique, Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf (video message), Viet Nam, United Arab Emirates, Costa Rica, Montenegro, Ethiopia, Philippines, Russian Federation, Sudan, Albania and Ireland. The polls were only the second democratic elections in Myanmar since the end of nearly five decades of military rule. Pre-existing inequalities should be contextualized within historic, political, social and economic spaces, and be effectively addressed to build back better with equality and quality. 2020 annual report of the Human Rights Council to … It had brought into focus the inherent vulnerabilities of small island developing States, further compounding the challenges already brought about by climate change. Earlier in the week, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet raised concerns of a “violent crackdown on dissenting voices” in Myanmar and reminded the military leadership of the country’s obligations under international human rights law to ensure people’s rights are protected and to refrain from using unnecessary or excessive force. The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold a special session on Friday to discuss the crisis in Myanmar after a military coup there. Condemning violations in Myanmar and urging the Government to stop them, speakers asked how the Council could support the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar and strengthen its cooperation with States and other entities. Sustainable and equitable responses required inclusive voice and representation through social dialogue, which rested on respect for fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly for all. ♦ Receive daily updates directly in your inbox -, restore internet and communication services, Security Council unity ‘crucial’ to support democracy in Myanmar, Myanmar: Stop harassment of workers, UN agency urges military, Secretary-General condemns deadly violence against protestors in Myanmar, Security Council calls for release of Aung San Suu Kyi, pledging ‘continued support’ for Myanmar’s democratic transition, Arrests, military control ‘a serious blow’ to democratic reforms in Myanmar: UN chief. London [UK], February 8 (ANI): The United Kingdom and the European Union have issued a joint call for the United Nations Human Rights Council to hold a special session to discuss the recent military coup in Myanmar, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Monday. It is utterly abhorrent that security forces are firing live ammunition against peaceful protesters across the country. “This is a critical time requiring immediate action from the Security Council, including holding an open session on Myanmar and unequivocally condemning the arrests and other human rights violations by the military. “Myanmar’s military and police must ensure the right to peaceful assembly is fully respected and demonstrators are not subjected to reprisals”, OHCHR said in a Tweet on Saturday. The United Nations Secretary-General has strongly condemned the detention of Myanmar’s top political leaders and government officials, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, by the country’s military. 4. UK, EU call for UN Human Rights Council’s special meeting over Myanmar coup. Developing countries were disproportionately affected due to fragile health sectors and sizable foreign debts, speakers said. GENEVA (AP) — The U.N.’s top human rights body has opened its first and highest-level meeting of 2021, amid growing concerns on issues including the military coup in Myanmar, the arrest of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and the rights situations in countries including Ethiopia and Sri Lanka.