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Myanmar’s obligations under international law
Myanmar has ratified only four of the 18 treaties that form the core of international human
rights law:
• Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990, ratified in 1991)
• One Optional Protocol (2002, ratified in 2012)
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2008, ratified in 2011)
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1981,
ratified in 1997).5
Although Myanmar has not yet joined the 168 states that have ratified the ICCPR, the
UDHR is regarded as international customary law and is binding on all states. Myanmar is
therefore obliged under international customary law to respect, protect and fulfil all human
rights, including the right to freedom of expression.
Myanmar has also shown internationally that it agrees to respect the right to freedom of
expression, both by adopting the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, and by guaranteeing
the right under Articles 354 and 365 of the Constitution of Myanmar.
The obligation to respect, protect and fulfil the right to freedom of expression carries two
commitments for Myanmar:
• It must avoid interfering with the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression.
• It must proactively remove obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of
expression.
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ARTICLE 19 - Censored gender: Women’s right to freedom of expression and information in Myanmar - Page 14