This is the News in Brief from the United Nations.
Scores of schools ‘reportedly occupied’ by security forces in Myanmar: UNICEF
Security forces in Myanmar have reportedly occupied more than 60 schools and university campuses, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.
In at least one incident, security forces reportedly beat two teachers while entering the premises, and left several others injured, the agency said in a joint statement with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the NGO, Save the Children.
“These incidents mark a further escalation of the current crisis and represent a serious violation of the rights of children. Schools must not be used by security forces under any circumstances”, they said.
The development comes amid continuing violence linked to protests against the 1 February coup by the country’s military.
The UN agencies warned that the occupation will exacerbate the learning crisis for almost 12 million children and youth in Myanmar, which was already under tremendous pressure owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing widespread closures.
They urged security forces to “vacate occupied premises immediately” and ensure that they are not used by military or security personnel.
No ‘fix’ to police violence, without tackling scourge in society
To the Human Rights Council now, and a warning from UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet that “brutality and discrimination against people of African descent continue to occur”.
Ms Bachelet’s comments come 10 months since the killing of 46-year-old African-American George Floyd, who died after an officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes in Minneapolis, sparking worldwide protests including the Black Lives Matter movement.
The High Commissioner’s comments also coincided with the US trial of the former police officer accused of being responsible for Mr. Floyd’s killing.
In an appeal on Friday for States to take action, the High Commissioner for Human Rights insisted that “no police officer or any other agent of any State should ever be above the law”.
But she said that “we can never ‘fix’ the police” until wider prejudice in society and its institutions is addressed – in education, housing, health and work.
Concern over Belarus crackdown on disability rights activists
To Belarus finally, where a top independent rights expert has spoken out against the “increasing crackdown” of rights activists, linked to ongoing protests over disputed presidential elections in August last year.
UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor issued the alert on Friday today, citing suspected reprisals against individuals who have worked with the UN to promote the rights of people with disabilities.
Raids on offices, to the arrest of rights defenders and lawyers, have become “common practice”, Lawlor said in a statement, highlighting the cases of Sergey Drozdovskiy and Oleg Grablevskiy, who have cooperated with the UN Human Rights Office.
Both had been arrested “in connection to their human rights work”, said Lawlor. She noted that Mr. Drozdovskiy, who is the director of the Office of the Rights for People with Disabilities and a wheelchair user, endured a seven-hour long interrogation, while Mr Grablevsky, a legal advisor, was told to remove his clothes during questioning.
Daniel Johnson, UN News.
