TODAY is of occasion in commemoration of the 73rd Anniversary of International Human Rights Day. As global countries mark the ceremonies of International Human Rights Day which falls today, Myanmar also joins the ceremony to mark the same event together with the international community.

Our Republic of the Union of Myanmar regained the Independence on 4 January 1948 and became a member of the United Nations on 19 April. Myanmar cast the vote for releasing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through the voting decision among member states at the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948.

According to the decision, the UN General Assembly released the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and set the 10th December as the International Human Rights Day.

Although human rights are inborn rights of all humans that cannot be erased, they all need to show regard for the rights of others and not to harm these rights in enjoying their rights in line with the important essence of human rights.

Myanmar also signed the agreements on international human rights such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights–ICESCR, the Convention on the Rights of the Child-CRC, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Dis-crimination Against Women–CEDAW and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities-CRPD in addition to some related protocols.

Chapter VIII of the Constitution (2008) of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar stipulates the citizen, fundamental rights and duties of the citizens.  The internal laws were enacted for the citizens to enjoy the rights mentioned in the international human rights conventions.

The theme of the 73rd Anniversary of International Human Rights Day is “Equality – Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights”. It is related to the provision “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” mentioned in paragraph-1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As equality and non-discrimination are the most basic essence of human rights, relevant organization, including the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, contact each other with strenuous efforts for enabling Myanmar people to enjoy human rights in equal terms and minimize the inequality in Myanmar similar to that of global countries.
 

Everybody knows that currently, the whole world is encountering the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic which primarily poses threats on the rights of life which is the most basic rights of humans. Global countries are striving for the implementation of the vaccination programme for the people to be free from the pandemic in connection with the international community, including the World Health Organization-WHO. At the same time, Myanmar is implementing the vaccination programme prioritized for the creation of the rights for all the people to equally receive the vaccines without leaving any persons under discrimination. Moreover, a future plan was adopted and is being implemented to recover the basic needs of the people, job opportunities and businesses of the people triggered by COVID-19 in possible ways.

Peace and stability in the entire nation primarily play a crucial role for  the people to fully enjoy the economic, social and cultural rights, improve their living standards and develop the multiple sectors of the nation.

As such, emphasis is being placed on the implementation of the agreements mentioned in the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement-NCA for restoring the perpetual peace in the nation, and utmost efforts are being made for enabling all ethnic national brethren to enjoy the fruits of peace and development in equal terms.

I send the message, deeply urging all—Union ministries, Union level organizations, region and state governments, people, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations and media organizations to follow the ways of human rights such as equality, all-inclusiveness and non-discrimination for the development of the nation and enhancement of the human rights in harmony.

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