UN RIGHTS BODY APPROVES RESOLUTION ON MYANMAR COUP

The UN’s top human rights body passed a consensus resolution urging military leaders in Myanmar to immediately release Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian government leaders detained after a military coup, while watering down an initial draft text amid pressure led by China and Russia.

In a special session at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the original resolution presented by Britain and the European Union was revised to remove calls to bolster the ability of a UN rights expert to scrutinize Myanmar and for restraint from the country’s military, Jamey Keaten reported for the Associated Press (AP).

After the updated resolution passed with no opposition, Chinese Ambassador Chen Xu thanked the sponsors for “adopting our recommendations” but said China still was distancing itself from the measure.

The sponsors of council resolutions often agree to soften the language of their texts in order to win consensus and to show that the 47-member body is united on thorny human rights issues.

The council has no power to impose sanctions but can train a political spotlight on rights abuses and violations. The session came shortly after the Biden administration, which has already imposed sanctions on top leaders of the Myanmar coup, revived US participation in the UN HRC, which the Trump administration pulled the country out of in 2018.

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