The peace conference which started in the Penglong city in Myanmar on 31st August, 2016 is extremely important for Myanmar. If it turns out to be successful this conference has the potential to bring about huge positive changes in Myanmar. A news release issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) states that this conference provides an opportunity to transform the country and bring it to a state which the people living here have been longing for since the last five decades. While issuing the news release, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Ms. Yanghee Lee further stated that in order for this conference to be fully successful in has to be all-inclusive and all important issues must be addressed.
Speaking ahead of a major peace conference in Myanmar, a United Nations independent expert has urged its participants to prioritize human rights issues in their discussions over the coming days, and to do more to ensure the process is fully inclusive. She stressed that discrimination, land rights and equitable sharing of natural resources are the core reasons for conflict within this country and all these issues need to discussed and resolved. She also said that participation of women and involvement of civil society organizations is a must for this event to result in durable peace which everyone is Myanmar is waiting for.