Will the UN Stop Failing Myanmar's People? Daily Brief

Time to act against Myanmar's junta abuses; a day for youth and citizen engagement at COP26; Syrian torture continues; UN report fails to give full picture of devastation in Ethiopia's Tigray; Singapore plans to execute a man with disability; and vaccine inequity persists amid European Covid fourth wave.

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Nine months after the attempted coup by the military, the humanitarian, human rights and political crisis in Myanmar keeps on escalating. Human Rights Watch and 520 national, regional, and international organizations are calling on the United Nations Security Council to go beyond statements and act to end the junta's abuses, starting with an arms embargo and a referral of the situation to the International Criminal Court. The international community cannot fail Myanmar's people any longer. 

Governments should follow the lead of young people's commitment to environmental issues as the Glasgow International Climate Conference, COP 26, focuses today on youth and civil society engagement. Young activists plan to march to stress that the climate crisis is a children rights crisis, and, within the conference, civil society organizations will talk about disability-inclusive climate action. Human Rights Watch is cohosting this first side event on sharing findings on the impacts of extreme heat on at-risk populations

Syrian refugees that have returned to their country are facing torture, fear and hunger, so why are governments and institutions willing to send them back? Denmark, along with Lebanon, Jordan, and other countries that are sending refugees back should follow the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and European Parliament resolution advising that Syria is not safe for return.

A report published Wednesday by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission underscores the need for an international investigation into abuses in Ethiopia. However, the joint report fails to render the full scale of abuses, and does not give well-documented trends the attention they deserve. An international investigation will be key to ensure future reparations and accountability.

Singapore is planning to execute a man with an intellectual disability for importing a small amount of drugs. In addition to the decision being disproportionate and cruel, Nagaenthran's right to a fair trial was violated, as he was not provided with the required support and accommodation for his disabilities. HRW opposes capital punishment under any circumstances and, in this particular case, it violates international law and treaty obligations of the Singaporean authorities and highlight their inhumanity. 

With winter returning in various parts of the world, the World Health Organization warned about the rising number of Covid-19 cases in Europe. If the continent is heading towards a fourth wave with a majority of its population vaccinated and holding discussion on booster shots, most of the richest countries in the world are still undermining a rapid and equitable public health response to Covid-19 vaccines, therapeutic drugs, and tests. Join our discussion on disparities in global vaccine access next Tuesday.