Myanmar Rights Commission Disqualified From Southeast Asian Rights Forum, Loses 2027 Chairmanship
The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) has been disqualified from the South-East Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF), costing it its turn as the forum's rotating chair in 2027, the Malay Mail reported on October 19.
In a statement the same day, SEANF said its Governing Board found the MNHRC no longer met the forum's definition of a national human rights institution, following a formal eligibility review that began on August 14. The board passed the resolution by consensus on October 1, with immediate effect. The five member institutions were Indonesia's Komnas HAM, Malaysia's Suhakam, the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, Thailand's NHRCT and Timor-Leste's Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ).
The MNHRC was notified in writing on September 1 and given an opportunity to respond, and was invited to the October 1 board meeting. It replied by letter on September 24 and a press statement on September 26 rejecting the review; the board said the responses did not satisfactorily address the matters raised. As a result, the MNHRC can no longer take part in SEANF's 23rd Annual Conference this year or any other SEANF meetings.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：仰光市政厅。来源：Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 4.0 / Photo: Yangon City Hall. Source: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
