AJC’S WOMEN LEADERS IN INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT – SYSTEMS MAPPING EXERCISE IN DHAKA, BANGLADESH

From 16 – 18 November, Asia Justice Coalition (AJC) and the Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University, (CPJ) jointly organised a Systems Mapping Workshop for emerging women legal practitioners in Dhaka, Bangladesh. As a part of the four-year AJC- Co-Impact project that aims to increase avenues to international justice and accountability through women-centered and women-led legal interventions, participants discussed challenges and barriers in international law and focused on 3 thematic areas; the rights of refugees, migrants and IDPs; international criminal justice mechanisms; and transitional and restorative justice.

REYKJAVIK GLOBAL FORUM 2023 – WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP AND EQUALITY

The Asia Justice Coalition participated in the Reykjavik Global Forum, held in Iceland on 13-14 November. This annual event brings together influential leaders to discuss best practices for achieving equality in various fields. AJC Secretariat Head Dr. Priya Pillai attended the Forum focusing on women’s leadership and equality.

PUBLICATION: “MAPPING ASIAN STATES’ POSITION ON CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY CONVENTION THROUGH AALCO RECORDS”

On 8 November, AJC Legal Communications and Advocacy Manager Aakash Chandran wrote an article mapping Asian States’ position on the Draft Crimes Against Humanity Convention. The blog post called for an increased engagement with the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organisation (AALCO) as an effective regional institution & active participation of Asian and African States at the UNGA Sixth Committee.

AJC’S JURISDICTIONAL BRIEFS FOR INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE IN ASIA – JAPAN

On 6 November, the Asia Justice Coalition Secretariat published the second brief of nine on international justice in Asia – Japan, highlighting existing accountability avenues for survivors of atrocity crimes. The brief outlines Japan’s domestic and international law framework and examines the availability of extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction in Japanese courts.

AJC’S PARTICIPATION IN LAW’S ROUNDTABLE ON A GENDER PRACTITIONER JUSTICE HUB

On 28 November, the Asia Justice Coalition participated in Legal Action Worldwide’s roundtable on gender justice in the Asia-Pacific region. AJC Project Manager Sangeetha Yogendran spoke about the Secretariat’s work on gender justice and highlighted the Women Leaders in International Justice and Accountability (WIJA) project, working to empower women leaders and increase avenues to international justice and accountability through women-led and women-centered legal interventions.

PANEL DISCUSSION IN ASEAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS CONCLAVE, PARIS HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE

On 2 November, AJC Secretariat Head Dr Priya Pillai joined a panel discussion on “The participation of civil society in the promotion and protection of human rights” with Sarah Jamal as part of the ASEAN & Human Rights Conclave hosted by the Paris Human Rights Centre. Dr Pillai talked about Cambodia, the Philippines, and Myanmar in relation to international justice proceedings.

FORTIFY RIGHTS: GERMAN FEDERAL PROSECUTOR DECLINES TO INVESTIGATE MYANMAR ATROCITIES

On 30 November, Fortify Rights reported that the Federal Public Prosecutor General of Germany has decided not to initiate an investigation into genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in Myanmar alleged in a 215-page complaint filed in January by Fortify Rights and 16 individual complainants from Myanmar.

BROUK: “FOUR YEARS OF SEEKING JUSTICE FOR THE ROHINGYA GENOCIDE”

On 21 November, BROUK held a webinar to mark four years since the 2017 Rohingya genocide and review ongoing justice initiatives, including the cases at ICJ, ICC, and Argentina Federal Court. The webinar included AJC members, Akila Radhakrishnan (President of AGlobal Justice Center), and Tun Khi (BROUK President). BROUK also released a new report entitled ‘ Struggling to survive’ documenting how Rohingya people live increasingly desperate lives amid widespread restrictions on humanitarian aid by the junta. 

AI AND GJC: DRAFT CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY CONVENTION MUST CENTER VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS

On 21 November, Amnesty International and Global Justice Center released a new factsheet on the Draft Crimes against Humanity Convention. The factsheet argues for a survivor-centric approach to the treaty, advocating for victim and survivor participation during the drafting process, a broad definition of ‘victim’, and an expansion of reparations provisions.

AI: “HUNDREDS OF ROHINGYA REFUGEES AT RISK AFTER REFUSED LANDING”

On 18 November, AJC Coalition Member Amnesty International also released a statement on the Rohingya pushbacks in Indonesia. Amnesty called on the Indonesian and other regional authorities to “immediately rescue those attempting to land, allow them to disembark safely, and provide humanitarian assistance, safety and shelter.”

AJAR: “QUESTIONING INDONESIA’S HUMANITARIAN PROMISES FOR ROHINGYA REFUGEES”

On 17 November, AJC Member Asia Justice and Rights published a joint statement criticizing the pushback of a boat carrying around 249 Rohingya refugees off the shore of two Indonesian villages. AJAR calls for the fulfilment of human rights principles in the treatment of Rohingya refugees landing in Indonesia and implementation of the Presidential Decree Number 125 of 2016 on the Handling of Foreign Refugees to bring Rohingya refugees to shelters.

BROUK: “WELCOMES UK INTERVENTION IN ROHINGYA GENOCIDE CASE”

On 16 November, AJC Member Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK issued a media release welcoming the British Government’s filing of a joint declaration of intervention in The Gambia v. Myanmar case before the International Court of Justice on November 15, with the governments of Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and France. According to BROUK President Tun Khin, “the intervention of other countries in support of the Gambia strengthens the case and increases the pressure on the Burmese military who are still committing genocide against Rohingya.”

HRW: RECENT REFUGEES PUSHED BACK TO MYANMAR BY THAILAND

On 29 November, Human Rights Watch called on the Thai authorities to 'permit newly arrived Myanmar refugees access to humanitarian aid and help those seeking protection'. According to HRW, ‘Thailand should facilitate cross-border aid to internally displaced people in Myanmar and enable increased humanitarian aid to refugees in temporary shelters in Mae Hong Son district and other areas along the border.’

FORTIFY RIGHTS: “UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW: BANGLADESH’S RECORD ON REFUGEE RIGHTS, 2018-2023”

On 9 November, Fortify Rights released a shadow report, ahead of Bangladesh’s Universal Periodic Review process before the UN Human Rights Council. The report ‘documents how Rohingya militants have killed and abducted refugees with impunity, how Bangladesh authorities have arbitrarily detained, tortured, and extorted Rohingya, and how Bangladesh continues to violate Rohingya rights to freedom of movement. The report also focuses on Bangladesh’s efforts to support justice for the Rohingya people and on its contradictory engagement with the Myanmar junta to return refugees to their indigenous Rakhine State.’

BHRN: “BANGLADESH-MYANMAR END COERCIVE REPATRIATION OF ROHINGYA REFUGEES”

On 31 October, Burma Human Rights Network issued a press release calling for an end to the forced return of Rohingya refugees by the Myanmar junta and Bangladesh authorities. According to BHRN Executive Director Kyaw Win: “We cannot send the Rohingya back into the hands of the Myanmar generals who orchestrated the genocide against them…Voluntary, safe, and dignified returns are not possible in a context like Myanmar and won’t be until the junta is defeated”.

SEVEN STATES FILE INTERVENTIONS IN THE GAMBIA V. MYANMAR GENOCIDE CASE

On 15 November, seven states – Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (joint), and the Maldives – filed declarations of intervention under Article 63 of the ICJ Statute. The declarations referred to a ‘common interest’ in the purposes of the Genocide Convention and expressed deep concern over the ‘continued…human rights violations’ against Rohingya Muslims respectively.

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES RESOLUTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS OF ROHINGYA MUSLIMS AND OTHER MINORITIES IN MYANMAR

On 15 November, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar” and ‘condemn[ed] all violations and abuses of human rights against civilians’ and ‘urgently call[ed] on Myanmar to immediately end all violations of international law in the country’.

UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR WELCOMES CSO INPUTS ON THE GENDERED IMPACTS OF THE COUP AND CONFLICT IN MYANMAR

On 27 November, UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews called for submissions towards his upcoming report on the ‘gendered impacts of the coup and conflict in Myanmar’. The call is open to CSOs, INGOs, governments and others. The submission deadline is 22 December.

SECURITY FORCE MONITOR – “UNDER WHOSE COMMAND?”

On 1 November, a new report by the Security Force Monitor documents the Myanmar Army’s entire chain of command. The research details and identifies the hierarchy and command exercised by senior officers under whose reign the alleged human rights violations were committed throughout a twelve-year period (2011 – 2023); the report makes a case of individual criminal responsibility for atrocity crimes.

UN SR ON MYANMAR CALLS ILLEGAL MYANMAR MILITARY THE ‘ROOT CAUSE’ OF THE ROHINGYA REFUGEE CRISIS

On 23 November, Tom Andrews, the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar commented on the growing number of Rohingya refugees fleeing refugee camps in Bangladesh on overcrowded vessels, attempting to arrive in Indonesia. According to him, “the crisis will only worsen without addressing its root cause – the illegal military junta of Myanmar”.