Senator Ludlam

Can the department advise what information gathering is undertaken on human rights abuses in Burma, past and present? What do we actually do to inform ourselves?

Answer:

The department informs itself about human rights abuses in Burma from a range of sources. The department monitors open source material, including from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar/Burma, and other United Nations specialist bodies. The department also consults international non-government organisations focusing on human rights issues, as well as Burmese community groups in Australia.

The Australian Embassy in Rangoon gathers information from sources inside Burma, and the Australian Embassy in Bangkok also monitors the situation on the Thai-Burma border.