Paolo Sergio Pinheiro, United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Burma, is scheduled to present his assessment of the situation in Burma to the United Nations General Assembly, on Friday, October 20th.
Pinheiro is expected to recommend that: “the General Assembly consider calling on the Security Council to respond to the situation of armed conflict in eastern Myanmar [Burma] where civilians are being targeted and where humanitarian assistance to civilians is being deliberately obstructed.”
This strong and specific recommendation for action follows Pinheiro’s presentation to the Human Rights Council last month calling attention to recent harassment of the political opposition and the lack of genuine mechanisms for democratic transition.
Pinheiro’s 20 page report to be presented on the 20th focuses on the escalation of violence in Karen State. Over 20,000 people are reported to have been displaced in the region among vast instances of killings, torture, rape, forced labor, and the destruction of villages.
The UNSC voted in September to put Burma on its formal agenda, but no direct discussion for a resolution has taken place.
Irrawaddy: UN should call for SC Action on Karen, says Pinheiro – 17 Oct
