Urgent Action: Human Rights Lawyer Receiving Death Threats (Myanmar: UA 77.17)

Human rights lawyer Robert Sann Aung has been receiving death threats and insultingmessages since the assassination of another prominent lawyer in Myanmar. The authorities must take immediate steps to ensure Robert Sann Aung’s safety, investigate the threats and to hold those responsible to account.

• Take immediate action to protect and ensure the safety of Robert Sann Aung, in coordination with him and subject to his wishes;
• Immediately order an impartial, independent and effective investigation into the threats against and harassment of Robert Sann Aung and bring those responsible to justice in trials which meet international standards of fairness;

• Ensure that all members of the police and other security forces are made aware of the role of human rights defenders and their responsibility to protect them, as set out in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and ensure they are able to carry out their work free from harassment, discrimination, and the threat of criminalization.