AJC STATEMENT: ‘STATES SHOULD PROMPTLY JOIN THE LJUBLJANA-THE HAGUE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN PROSECUTING CRIMES UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW’

 

On 14 February, Asia Justice Coalition joined Amnesty International, TRIAL International, REDRESS, and the International Commission of Jurists to call upon states to ratify the Ljubljana-The Hague Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and other International Crimes. The statement urged all states to swiftly sign and ratify the Convention, conclude the process of its adoption without reservations, and implement it fully under domestic law.

 

AJC PUBLISHED A PRIMER ON ‘FORCED MARRIAGE’

 

On 12 February, the Coalition published a primer on ‘Forced Marriage’. The primer offers a concise explanation of the following: 1) what is meant by forced marriage; 2) whether forced marriage is an international crime; 3) whether forced marriage has been prosecuted as a crimes against humanity; and 4) should forced marriage be recognised as a distinct crime.

PODCAST WITH DR. PILLAI ON INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN ASIA

 

Asia Justice Coalition Executive Director, Dr. Priya Pillai, was in conversation with Dr. Yassin Brunger on the challenges and prospects of international criminal justice in Asia. They discuss the anniversary of Myanmar’s military offensive against the Rohingya, the role of civil society in seeking justice, and the importance of regional collaboration in addressing mass atrocities. Dr. Pillai emphasizes the need for international treaties on crimes against humanity and the significance of states’ commitment to preventing such crimes.

 

‘AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ASIA-PACIFIC – BUILD ON THE MOMENTUM OF GR 40’

 

On 7 February, Dr. Priya Pillai wrote a blog post for the GQUAL Campaign’s symposium on the CEDAW General Recommendation 40. The blog post centered on women’s leadership from the Asian region in international justice & accountability, highlighting the AJC Women's Leadership in International Justice and Accountability (WIJA) Project.

GCR2P MYANMAR ATROCITY ALERT

 

On 26 February, Asia Justice Coalition member Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect released its Atrocity Alert, focusing on the situation in Myanmar. As atrocity crimes continue to be widespread across Myanmar, GCR2P called on the international community to support ongoing judicial and legal accountability efforts, the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, and civil society organizations documenting these atrocities.

 

BROUK: ‘ARGENTINA COURT ISSUES INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANT FOR MIN AUNG HLAING – A HISTORIC STEP TOWARDS JUSTICE FOR ROHINGYA GENOCIDE’

 

On 14 February, the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK welcomed the issuance of the arrest warrants by the Argentinian Court against Min Aung Hlaing and other Burmese military and civilian officials for the crime of genocide against the Rohingya under the principle of universal jurisdiction. According to Tun Khin (President, BROUK), “This brings a ray of hope to Rohingya who have suffered through decades of genocide, watching their families and culture be destroyed with impunity. It is also a victory for international justice at a time of growing violations of international law worldwide.”

 

FORTIFY RIGHTS: ‘LAWYERS COUNCIL OF THAILAND AGREED TO INVESTIGATE THE TORTURE AND KILLING OF MYANMAR NATIONAL’

 

On 14 February, the Lawyers Council of Thailand agreed to investigate the torture and killing of Myanmar national Aung Ko Ko. Fortify Rights submitted a complaint on February 13, 2025, alleging Thai army soldiers are responsible.

 

LAW: ‘ARGENTINA COURT ISSUES ARREST WARRANTS FOR GENOCIDE AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY COMMITTED AGAINST THE ROHINGYA COMMUNITY’

 

On 14 February, AJC member Legal Action Worldwide released a press release on the arrest warrants issued by the Argentina Court for genocide and crimes against humanity committed against the Rohingya community. Seven brave Rohingya witnesses, six of whom are women, including survivors of severe sexual violence in Myanmar, gave critical evidence in this case in 2023, supported by LAW.

 

GJC: Q&A ON THE UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION CASE AGAINST MYANMAR OFFICIALS

 

On 14 February, in the wake of the issuance of the arrest warrants by the Argentinian Court for Myanmar officials for genocide and crimes against humanity committed against the Rohingya, the Global Justice Center updated its Q&A on the universal jurisdiction case.

 

LAW: CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES WITH UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION

 

Head of Litigation at Legal Action Worldwide, Nick Leddy, discussed the legal concept, challenges and opportunities of universal jurisdiction with the Wayamo Foundation.

BROUK: ‘FOUR YEARS SINCE THE COUP: ATROCITIES CONTINUE IN BURMA’

 

On 1 February, marking the fourth year since the military coup in Myanmar, the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK reiterated the criminality against civilians committed by both the junta and the Arakan Army with impunity, facing no meaningful consequences year after year. BROUK called for immediate and decisive action to end the persecution of the Rohingya and the ASEAN to end its complicity with the Burmese military.

 

ICJ: ‘FOUR YEARS AFTER THE MILITARY COUP, WIDESPREAD ATROCITIES PERSIST WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY’

 

On 1 February, the International Commission of Jurists released a statement calling for wide-ranging efforts to dismantle and counter impunity and deliver justice to victims of ongoing atrocities, including those perpetrated in the four years since the 2021 coup in Myanmar. According to ICJ, “As the conflict in Myanmar continues unabated, the military has continued perpetrating gender-based crimes, including conflict-related sexual violence, particularly against ethnic and religious minorities.”

 

AJAR: ‘THE INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL COMMUNITY MUST ACT ON MYANMAR’S FOUR-YEAR CRISIS UNDER JUNTA RULE’

 

On 1 February, AJC member Asia Justice and Rights released a joint statement unequivocally condemning the junta’s continued and escalating violence and called upon the international and regional community, especially ASEAN under the leadership of Malaysia, to act on Myanmar’s four-year crisis under junta rule. According to the statement, “The ASEAN 5-Point Consensus, agreed upon in April 2021, has proven ineffective due to the junta’s blatant disregard, leaving the Myanmar crisis without a people-led and people-centered solution.”

 

FORTIFY RIGHTS, AI, BHRN, BROUK: ‘FOUR YEARS AFTER COUP, WORLD MUST DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ATROCITY CRIMES’

 

On 31 January, AJC members Fortify Rights, the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, Burma Human Rights Network, and Amnesty International released a joint statement along with other civil society organisations and called on governments, donors, and international agencies to support and pursue a wide variety of accountability efforts, including universal jurisdiction, and the potential creation of ‘hybrid’ or similar tailored justice mechanisms. 

 

BHRN: ‘FOUR YEARS ON: MYANMAR’S MUSLIMS ARE STILL WAITING FOR JUSTICE’

 

On 1 February, AJC member Burma Human Rights Network called on the international community to act now to protect Myanmar's Muslim communities, including cutting off the junta’s access to weapons and revenue. According to Kyaw Win (Executive Director, BHRN), “Myanmar's Muslim minorities, being victims of state sponsored institutionalised Islamophobia for many decades, the population has been exploited and crippled in many aspects, their existence has been denied and their survival is now in critical”.

‘ICC CONDEMNS THE ISSUANCE OF US EXECUTIVE ORDER SEEKING TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON THE COURT’

 

On 7 February, the International Criminal Court condemned the issuance by the United States of an Executive Order seeking to impose sanctions on its officials and harm its independent and impartial judicial work. The Court called on its 125 States Parties, civil society and all nations of the world to stand united for justice and fundamental human rights.

 

‘FOUR YEARS ON, COUP LEADERS RAMP UP VIOLATIONS TO UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS, UN FINDS’

 

On 31 January, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk released a statement on the situation in Myanmar. According to him, “This military-created human rights crisis has caused untold suffering through indiscriminate attacks against civilians, denial of humanitarian aid, and systematic violations of human rights”. He called on States with influence, particularly those in the region, to double down on bringing an end to the violence, to press for full and unhindered humanitarian assistance, to demand the release of all those detained on political grounds, to engage meaningfully with actors promoting democracy and human rights, and to ensure international protection for those fleeing the violence and persecution.

‘SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON ALL CONFLICT PARTIES IN MYANMAR TO EXERCISE MAXIMUM RESTRAINT’

 

On 30 January, the UN Secretary-General condemned all forms of violence and called on all conflict parties in Myanmar to exercise maximum restraint, uphold human rights and international humanitarian law, and prevent further incitement of violence and intercommunal tensions. He further He reiterated his concern regarding the military’s stated intention to hold elections amid intensifying conflict, including aerial bombardment and widespread human rights violations and without conditions that permit the people of Myanmar to freely and peacefully exercise their political rights, including safety and security.

‘UN EXPERT URGES SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE OF MYANMAR AS THEY HEROICALLY OPPOSE MILITARY OPPRESSION’

 

On 30 January, the UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, called upon the international community to dismiss the plans of the military to hold elections in the backdrop of continuing conflict and attacks against the civilians. He also urged governments to back efforts to hold perpetrators of grave human rights violations accountable, including in the International Criminal Court, and by supporting the democratic movement and civil society as they build the foundation for a strong justice system and transitional justice processes.