Ms. Yanghee Lee Meets with Human Rights Activity Groups and CSOs in Rangoon (01/2017)

On January 17, 2017, Ms. Yanghee Lee met with human rights activity groups and CSO organizations between 8:00 and 11:00 am, at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in U Thant hall, Rangoon. They discussed the Human Rights situation in Burma, and how the government and parliament are working on these issues.

The Human Rights activity group presenters were; Ko Zaw Moe (AAPP), Daw Pancy Htun Thein (the Local Resource Center), Ma New Zin Win (from the Pye Gyi Khin), Ma Thidar (PEN Myanmar), Ko Thwin Lin Aung ( CSO Forum for Peace), Daw Khon Ja ( CSO Forum for Peace), Ma May Sabal Phyu (Gender Equality Network), Eh Thaw ( Colors Rainbow), Ko Ye Yint Aung ( Human Rights Defenders Forum), U Oo Kyaw Thein ( Earthrights International).

Ko Zaw Moe (AAPP), spoke about the AAPP documentation list for Political Prisoners, advocating for the release of political Prisoners and the definition of political prisoners. He spoke about how Section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law limits freedom of expression and concern for the way Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Association Act is used against Human Rights Defenders. He also addressed the need to reduce the number of prisoners in Burma, to assess the number of prisoners convicted of drug crime, to reduce the long periods people spend awaiting trial in detention and the process of reforming prison conditions.