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  • Chris Beyrer, MD, MPH
  • Dr. Sean Turnell
  • Myra Dahgaypaw
  • Jennifer Quigley
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Hearings & Briefings

Human Rights Abuses in Burma

Hearing Thursday, April 23, 2009 1:30 PM 210 Cannon House Office Building

This hearing will take place at 1:30 PM on 4/23/2009, in 210 Cannon House Office Building.
The hearing is open to members of Congress, congressional staff, the media and the interested public.

Thursday, April 23, 2009
1:30 PM
210 Cannon House Office Building
Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing with experts to discuss the egregious and ongoing deterioration of human rights in Burma and how the international community is responding to the dire situation.

The ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) held a referendum to approve its draft constitution in May 2008 and continues its’ plans for elections in 2010 under these new constitutional election law provisions which are deemed undemocratic by international election standards. The new constitution will take full effect when a new parliament is convened following those elections, leavingthe SPDC and military in control of all organs of government.

According to the State Department, Burma’s extremely poor human rights record continued to deteriorate in the past year, with the military regime continuing to perpetuate serious abuses against political opponents. Democracy leaders and ethnic minorities throughout the country face widespread and systematic human rights violations by the Burmese Army, including religious persecution, sexual violence against women, human trafficking, forced labor and forced relocation. Recent reports have exposed evidence of a wide array of abuses perpetrated by the ruling SPDC in their response to Cyclone Nargis. The United States has announced it is reviewing its Burma policy and at the end of April, the European Union will consider whether to renew its sanctions regime as well.
• Chris Beyrer, MD, MPH, Professor of Epidemiology, International Health and Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health – Baltimore, MD

• Dr. Sean Turnell, Associate Professor of Economics, MacQuarie University – Australia

• Myra Dahgaypaw, Karen refugee, Eastern Burma

• Jennifer Quigley, Advocacy Director, U.S. Campaign for Burma

If you have any questions, please contact 202-225-3599.

James P. McGovern, M.C.
Co-Chairman, TLHRC

Frank R. Wolf, M.C.
Co-Chairman, TLHRC

 

Contact the Commission

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
2170 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
United States of America

+1-202-225-3599
TLHRC@mail.house.gov

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance or whenever practicable.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.

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