In June 2010 the ICBL submitted a stakeholder document to the Universal Periodic Review for Myanmar to the Human Rights Commission summarizing reporting over the past 10 years of the Monitor on the use of forced labor for mine clearance/detonation and recommended “an immediate halt to the use of antipersonnel mines by the armed forces and proxies under its control; order an immediate halt to the use of forced labour by the armed forces and proxies under its control, particularly for the purposes of mine clearance and portering in mined areas; and accede to the Mine Ban Treaty.”[1]
During the UPR process, Canada recommended Myanmar accede to the Mine Ban Treaty. In the outcome document the authorities indicated that this recommendation would be examined by Myanmar, which would provide its responses on the recommendation in due course.[2]
The Human Rights Council also emphasized the fact that its Special Rapporteur also urged Myanmar to ratify the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty and repeated concerns that the Special Rapporteur that previously laid mines remain largely in place and that civilian casualties continued to constitute the majority of reported mine victims, particularly along border zones where displaced people have been returned.[3]
[1] Summary prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, Myanmar. United Nations General Assembly, A /HRC/WG.6/10/MMR/3, 18 October 2010. The full ICBL UPR submission on Myanmar is available at: http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session10/MM/ICBL_InternationalCampaigntoBanLandmines_eng.pdf The annex to the ICBL submission on Myanmar is available at: http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session10/MM/ICBL_InternationalCampaigntoBanLandmines_Annex1_eng.pdf
[2] Draft report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review Myanmar, United Nations General Assembly, A/HRC/WG.6/10/L.7, 2 February 2011. http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session10/MM/Myanmar-A_HRC_WG.6_10_L.7-eng.pdf
[3] Compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 Myanmar, United Nations General Assembly, A /HRC/WG.6/10/MMR/2, 15 November 2010. http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=A/HRC/WG.6/10/MMR/2&Lang=E