Myanmar Presser - Tom Andrews 22 September 2022
/
30:43
/
MP4
/
2.2 GB

Edited News , Press Conferences | OHCHR

HRC Myanmar Presser - Tom Andrews 22 SEPTEMBER 2022

Myanmar: if Security Council won’t act, other nations should step in, urges top rights expert

Horrific testimonies from civilians targeted by Myanmar’s military are yet another reason for the international community to take practical measures to halt the bloodshed, a top human rights expert said on Thursday.

“It is incredibly important for the world to give a damn,” said Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. “It is very important for the nations of the world to stop failing the people of Myanmar and act.”

Mr. Andrews, who reports to the Human Rights Council, insisted that the military continued to bomb civilians, in an attempt to subdue opposition to their de facto rule.

He described how the junta’s military forces had attacked a school in Sagaing region last Friday, killing at least 13, including 11 children; the coordinated attack from the air and ground had ended with soldiers picking up children’s bodyparts and taking them away, the Special Rapporteur said.

“A school in a monastery, two helicopter gunships, foreign-made, foreign-provided swooping in on this school while soldiers entered the grounds with automatic weapons firing away; children terrified, running, looking for cover. Eleven of them at least killed, literally blown up, and the story of a young boy whose arm had been blown off screaming to mother to kill him because the pain was so great.”

The Special Rapporteur, who works in an independent capacity, told journalists in Geneva that since a coup by the country’s military last February, the generals in charge had been “holding a nation of 54 million people hostage. I think the best way to think of them is not as any kind of governmental entity but as a criminal gang that has literally taken over a country and are holding its leaders and its people hostage.”

In the absence of unified condemnation of the coup in the UN Security Council and the establishment of targeted economic sanctions, an arms embargo and a request for an international criminal inquiry, Mr. Andrews called for a “coalition of likeminded countries” to take action. “If it can’t be done by the Security Council, then it must be done by those nations who were speaking yesterday and will speak today in support of the people of Myanmar”, he said, in reference to the great gathering of world leaders attending the UN General Assembly in New York this week.

Without action, the situation risked spiralling out of control, the Special Rapporteur warned, noting that South-East Asian nations including China would be hardest-hit, in the first instance.

“I can see a major, major flow of refugees out of that country if the trajectory that we’re on right now continues,” he said.

Ahead of elections planned next year in Myanmar, Mr. Andrews urged countries not to give a “veneer of legitimacy” to them.

Among the war crimes and crimes against humanity that the Myanmar military was committing on a daily basis, the top rights expert listed sexual violence, torture and murder – including the execution of four opposition advocates in July. “They included a former parliamentarian and a prominent, pro-democracy activist,” the Special Rapporteur told the Human Rights Council on Wednesday.

“This is not an election, and to call it an election is to participate in a great wrongdoing of the people of Myanmar,” he said. “If the fundamentals of a free and fair election – the opportunity for people to have a choice, a voice in their future, it’s impossible if you’ve locked up and are killing the opposition”

ends

STORY: Myanmar Presser – Tom Andrews

TRT: 2 mins 59s

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 22 September 2022 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

  1. Medium shot, UN Geneva flag alley, a sunny day.
  2. Wide shot, Press room, podium speakers.
  3. SOUNDBITE(ENGLISH) UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews: “It is incredibly important for the world to give a damn. It is very important for the nations of the world to stop failing the people of Myanmar and act.”
  4. Close, TV viewfinder showing Mr. Andrews.
  5. SOUNDBITE(ENGLISH) UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews: “The key here is to stop the flow of weapons but also to stop the flow of revenue that is flowing into the coffers of the junta.”
  6. Close, journalist’s hand holding pen, writing notes.

SOUNDBITE(ENGLISH) UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews: “A school in a monastery, two helicopter gunships, foreign-made, foreign-provided swooping in on this school while soldiers entered the grounds with automatic weapons firing away; children terrified, running, looking for cover. Eleven of them at least killed, literally blown up, and the story of a young boy whose arm had been blown off screaming to mother to kill him because the pain was so great.”

  1. Wide, TV cameras and video journalists.

SOUNDBITE(ENGLISH) UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews: “If the UN Security Council will not convene and pass a resolution under Chapter Seven which would establish targeted economic sanctions, establish an arms embargo, make reference to the International Criminal Court, I mean, that’s what should be done, but that’s not going to be done, obviously, so if it can’t be done by the Security Council, then it must be done by those nations who were speaking yesterday and will speak today in support of the people of Myanmar.”

  1. Medium, video journalist.
  2. SOUNDBITE(ENGLISH) UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews: “I can see a major, major flow of refugees out of that country if the trajectory that we’re on right now continues.”
  3. Medium, journalists, seated.
  4. SOUNDBITE(ENGLISH) UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews: “This is not an election, and to call it an election is to participate in a great wrongdoing of the people of Myanmar.”
  5. Close, laptop screen showing Mr. Andrews.
  6. SOUNDBITE(ENGLISH) UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews: “If the fundamentals of a free and fair election – the opportunity for people to have a choice, a voice in their future, it’s impossible if you’ve locked up and are killing the opposition”
  7. Close, hands typing on laptop.
  8. Close, Mr. Andrews on TV camera viewfinder and to rear.
  9. Medium, journalist watching proceedings.
  10. Medium, participant wearing headphones.

Similar Stories

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end”

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end” ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday warned that three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has entered an even more dangerous and deadly stage for Ukrainian civilians, under relentless bombardment of their schools, hospitals, and shelters.

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF , WHO , ICRC

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC ENG FRA

Quadcopter victims, terror and death: 30 minutes in a Gaza hospital 

UN aid teams on Friday highlighted the disturbing situation in Gaza’s makeshift hospitals, where premature babies cry for scant oxygen and medics attempt to save child survivors targeted by airstrikes in their tents and quadcopter victims reportedly shot while fetching bread.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 03 October 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNHCR , UNICEF , UNIS , WHO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 03 October 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

HRC 60 Press conference: Human Rights situation in the Central African Republic - 02 October 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | HRC , OHCHR

HRC 60 Press conference: Human Rights situation in the Central African Republic - 02 October 2025 ENG FRA

Report of the Independent Expert on Human Rights situation in the Central African Republic.

 

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti

2

1

2

Edited News | OHCHR

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Thursday delivered his oral update to the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session on the human rights situation in Haiti.

The High Commissioner welcomed Wednesday’s decision of the UN Security Council to strengthen the Multinational Security Support mission by transitioning to the Gang Suppression Force for Haiti, stating it is a strong signal of international support for the Haitian people.

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: As world waits for US peace plan news, UN aid teams stress need for ceasefire

UN agencies reiterated calls for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday to help alleviate Palestinian suffering, as a new US 20-point plan raised hopes of a halt to the fighting.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 30 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNECE , WHO , OCHA , UNHCR , UNICEF

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 30 September 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (the UN Refugee Agency), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Children Fund, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the World Health Organization.

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO ENG FRA

The ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza City continues to overwhelm the war-torn enclave’s medical professionals, with four more hospitals forced to shut down this month alone, the UN World Health Organization said on Friday.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 26 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | WHO , FAO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 26 September 2025 ENG FRA

Michele Zaccheo, Chief of the Radio, TV and Webcast Section at the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the Food and Agricultural Organization and the World Health Organization.

UNCTAD Press conference: Review of Maritime Transport - 24 September 2025

2

1

2

Press Conferences | UNCTAD

UNCTAD Press conference: Review of Maritime Transport - 24 September 2025 ENG FRA

Global maritime transport is facing growing uncertainty, volatility and higher costs while growth in maritime trade is slowing down, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warns in its Review of Maritime Transport 2025, released on 24 September.

 

HRC Press Conference: Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua - 23 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | HRC , OHCHR

HRC Press Conference: Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua - 23 September 2025 ENG FRA

Launch of the latest report by the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua.

UN Report: Civilian detainees subjected to troubling patterns of torture and ill treatment since Russia’s full scale attack on Ukraine

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Report: Civilian detainees subjected to troubling patterns of torture and ill treatment since Russia’s full scale attack on Ukraine ENG FRA

A UN Human Rights report released today details the dire situation of thousands of civilians detained since Russia’s full-scale armed attack on Ukraine in 2022.