Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs written question – answered at on 24 January 2013.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the prospects for constitutional reform in Burma; and what support the UK is offering to this process.
Our embassy facilitated a visit by the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) in August 2012. The focus of the visit was, inter alia, to examine the functioning of the judicial system and analyse the international and domestic legal norms applicable to the judicial system, including the 2008 constitution.
The IBAHRI report of December 2012 produced as a result of that visit, “The Rule of Law in Myanmar: Challenges and Prospects”, includes a number of recommendations, including those that relate to addressing provisions of the constitution.
Our embassy in Rangoon has undertaken to circulate a Burmese language version of the report in Burma, particularly to those Government interlocutors with whom the delegation met, with a view to supporting the IBAHRI’s proposed next steps.
Ultimately any decision to revise the 2008 constitution is a decision for the people of Burma. We would consider any requests for support in that endeavour.
Yes2 people think so
No2 people think not
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