ND-Burma statement on International Justice Day, 17 July 2017

July 17, 2017

On International Justice Day, the Network for Human Rights Documentation (ND-Burma) calls on the Government to begin talking about justice for Burma’s many victims of human rights abuses.

For 13 years, ND-Burma’s members have been documenting human rights abuses across the country. Our database holds the cases of over 6,000 victims who have never seen justice or had their suffering acknowledged.

When the NLD-led Government was elected in 2015, we hoped our work would be done. Unfortunately, our documentation shows that violations have re-escalated under the current Government.

As innocent civilians continue to be murdered, tortured and raped, we believe it is time for Burma to begin implementing the rule of law. As long as human rights violations are not punished, they will continue.

ND-Burma has spent 2017 asking victims of human rights violations what they would need in order to begin re-building their lives. Most want nothing more than recognition and modest Government support to help them re-build their lives.

In 2012, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi spoke beautifully about how human rights need to be protected for the rule of law and democracy to take root:

“We believe as a National League for democracy that human rights must be protected by the rule of law, and there can never be occasions where human rights can be neglected or ignored or the rule of law set aside.”

ND-Burma calls on the Government to remember its former perspicuity on the link between human rights, justice and the rule of law, and stop ignoring the grave abuses happening across the country.

International Justice Day is celebrated throughout the world on July 17 and unites all those who wish to support justice, promote victims’ rights, and help prevent crimes that threaten the peace, security and well-being of the world.

ND-Burma is a 13-member organization whose members represent a range of ethnic nationalities, women and the LGBTI community. We have been documenting human rights abuses and fighting for justice for victims since 2004.