A/HRC/43/59 Annex II Questions for Government of Myanmar from UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar Previous recommendations 1. Please provide information on your plans to implement the recommendations in my report to the General Assembly of October 2019. Law and institutional reform 2. I understand that the Constitutional Amendment Committee has now submitted two Charter Amendment Bills to parliament. Please provide an update on the progress of this. 3. I refer to the non-exhaustive list of laws, which are not compatible with human rights standards and are in need of reform, provided in my report to the Human Rights Council of March 2016. What progress has been made to amend this legislation? Please give a detailed list of laws from that list that have been amended or reformed. 4. Please provide an update on the progress of the Prevention and Protection of Violence against Women Law, and in particular how the law will define sexual violence so as to properly protect women and meet international standards. 5. I understand that committee under the Office of the Attorney General tasked with drafting the National Land Law has been established. Please provide details on the progress being made in drafting the National Land Law, and on how the Law will be aligned with the National Land Use Policy. 6. Please provide an update on the progress of the draft Prisons Law, and how it will be aligned with the Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. 7. Please provide an update on the progress of the draft Petroleum Law, and how it will align with Myanmar’s obligations under the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. 8. I understand that all previous members of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) have been replaced with new commissioners. Please provide information on the selection process. Please also provide information on plans to amend the MNHRC’s enabling Law, and how it will be aligned with the Paris Principles. Administration of justice 9. It is reported that there are 74 political prisoners currently serving sentences. What is obstructing their release? Please provide information on the steps being taken to bring about the release of all political prisoners. 10. Please provide information on the reported conviction of the following people, including the proceedings that were commenced against them, any trial that took place and whether they had legal representation: (a) Thein Aung Myat (reportedly sentenced to two years in prison in Ayeyarwady Region under section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act for publishing a calendar using terminology used by the Arakan Army) (b) Kaung Myat Thu (reportedly sentenced to two years in prison in Ayeyarwady Region under section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act for publishing a calendar using terminology used by the Arakan Army) 11. Please provide information, including the status of proceedings and whether the defendants have legal representation, about the following cases that are ongoing: (a) Nay Zar Tun (reportedly jailed and facing two charges for defamation in Yangon in relation to her campaigning for release of her brother, Aung Ko Htwe) 21