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NGOs call on US to estabalish international accountability mechanism at UNHRC

In a joint statement released Friday, 14 non-governmental organisation have called on the US to "press for action" at the UN Human Rights Council's March session.

The organisations include, Amnesty International, Human Rights Program at The Carter Center, Citizens for Global Solutions, Democracy Coalition Project, Enough Project, Feminist Majority Foundation, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights, Leadership Council for Human Rights, Open Society Foundations, Physicians for Human Rights, United to End Genocide and the U.S. Campaign for Burma.

See here for full statement.

Extracts reproduced below:

"The LLRC report issued in December made some helpful recommendations, but was dismissive of serious abuses by government forces and the need for accountability. 

Now is the time for the HRC to demonstrate its commitment to justice for victims and their families by taking effective action toward establishing an independent international accountability mechanism."

"The UN Panel and international organizations have rejected a domestic mechanism, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), as inadequate and lacking the independence necessary to conduct an impartial and effective investigation of these abuses. 

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