National Level Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Workshop held in Nay Pyi Taw

Together with all participants from government line departments, Hluttaw Representatives and the staff from Humanitarian Oraganizations taking group photo at UPR Workshop, Nay Pyi Taw (Photo: Isaac Kyaw Htun Hla/LWF Myanmar/2018)

In the fruitful collaboration of LWF Myanmar and Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) - Myanmar Workshop had held at Hotel Max in Nay Pyi Taw on June 20-21, 2018.

At the workshop, invited participants from the Hluttaw representatives from Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw, representative high-ranking officer from the government departments, civic societies, chairman, members and staff of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, and staff of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF Myanmar) were attended actively throughout workshop.

During workshop, Chairman of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission U Win Mra said, “As for the procedure of the UPR, Myanmar will have to undergo a third assessment of human rights situation in October or November 2020. That’s why this workshop is being held with the aim of making preparations and discussing the implementation process of the proposals, which was made in the second UPR workshop. I would like to request all the representatives to take part in the discussion actively.”

LWF Myanmar Program Coordinator Mariolein Coren remarked on the proposals of the UPR and expressed thanks to Finn Church Aid (FCA) and Church of Sweden (CoS) for supporting fund.

Regarding with the UPR Workshop that jointly working with Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHR), she said, “Through LWF Myanmar’s Community focused Right Based Empowerment Program, we has been building capacities and establishing linkages between communities and often local government departments especially on the right for communities to access land. In addition, the UPR project aims to help women claim legal rights to register land in their names or that of a couple. This project is important, because it will address the problems within Myanmar's society, bottom-up, at the grassroots level, with civil society, and by Myanmar's own actors.”

Later on, member of the Myanmar Human Rights Commission U Nyunt Swe has discussed the UPR in brief and UN’s proposal on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. On the other hand, LWF Myanmar Deputy Program Manager U San Thein Maung presented about LWF Myanmar project implemented activities that related to UPR processes in community level.

The Executive Director of Equality Myanmar U Aung Myo Min, who strengthening roles of CSOs in Myanmar also shared UPR process and ongoing activities by delivering presentation and distributing latest version of Mid-Term UPR report with all participants.

Throughout workshop, all participants were divided into small groups and thoroughly discussed on every recommendation. Moreover, all recommendations are proposed to its related government departments to be carried out for further implementation.

The first National Level UPR Workshop had been conducted in August 2016 and it is second that conducted in the cooperating of LWF Myanmar and Myanmar National Human Rights Commission.