A/HRC/16/59 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 7 March 2011 Original: English Human Rights Council Sixteenth session Agenda item 4 Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention Progress report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana* Summary Myanmar undertook national elections for the first time in over two decades on 7 November 2010. One week later, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was released unconditionally upon the end of her house arrest term. The new national parliament began meeting on 31 January 2011. Amidst much uncertainty, there appears to be some cautious optimism that positive change may be possible. Among those changes that the people of Myanmar dare to hope for is the realization of their economic, social and cultural rights. For this reason, the Special Rapporteur begins to address in the present report the subject of economic, social and cultural rights, starting with the right to education. * Late submission. GE.11-11577