Asia Justice Coalition - Newsletter

FORTIFY: THE RISK OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND COERCED RECRUITMENT OF BANGLADESHI MEN INTO RUSSIA’S WAR IN UKRAINE

On 3 March, Fortify Rights and Truth Hounds published a new report documenting how Bangladeshi men were trafficked into Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The report documents patterns of deception, coercion, and abuse that have led to Bangladeshi men being transported across borders and forced onto the frontlines of the war in Ukraine. It urges the governments of Bangladesh, Ukraine, and Russia, as well as international organizations, to support trafficking survivors, end coercive and illegal recruitment practices, and stop the supply of men into Russia’s war of aggression.

LAW, ICJ: SIDE EVENT ON THE DURABLE SOLUTION OF THE ROHINGYA CRISIS

On 6 March, AJC members Jack Torbet (Legal Action Worldwide) and Sandra Epal-Ratjen (International Commission of Jurists) participated in a #HRC61 side event, “Advancing Accountability and Justice for the Durable Solution of the Rohingya Crisis” co-organised by the Delegation of the European Union to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva and the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh. The other speakers were Ambassador Nahida Sobhan (Bangladesh), Ambassador Amb. Prof. Muhammadou (The Gambia), Ambassador Michele Cervone d'Urso (EU Delegation), Lucky Karim (Refugee Women for Peace and Justice), UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews, and Kaoru Okuizumi (Deputy Head of the IIMM).

GJC SIDE EVENT ON ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR REPRODUCTIVE VIOLENCE

On 9 March, Global Justice Center held a side event discussing the crime of reproductive violence and pathways for achieving justice for victims and survivors entitled “Access to Justice for Reproductive Violence”. The panel explored efforts to document and advance accountability for reproductive violence in Afghanistan, Gaza, Myanmar, and Peru. Watch the full event recording here.

CSO JOINT LETTER TO NEW BANGLADESH GOVERNMENT URGING HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION

On 12 March, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Fortify Rights, along with other civil society organisations wrote a letter to the new Bangladesh government urging it to prioritise human rights. The letter includes recommendations for the new government to support systemic reform and ensure accountability and human rights, such as (a) prevent forced repatriation of refugees to Myanmar while the situation does not allow for voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable returns; (b) close the Bhasan Char camp and ensure that those currently on the island are allowed to relocate voluntarily and without coercion to the mainland camps and that no further relocations to the island occur; (c) phase out restrictions on access to livelihood opportunities and freedom of movement for refugees and allow refugee children to receive formal education following the Burmese curriculum.

FORTIFY: ROHINGYA REFUGEES IN MALAYSIA HELD IN INHUMANE AND DEGRADING CONDITIONS

On 12 March, Fortify Rights released a new investigative report revealing how Rohingya refugees are detained indefinitely in inhumane and degrading conditions in Malaysia without legal recourse or access to judicial review. Fortify called on Malaysia to end the criminalisation of Rohingya and other refugees for 'illegal entry' by ending the new refugee registration scheme implemented by the government starting in January 2026 and recognize their ongoing persecution in Myanmar and secure their immediate release from detention.

HRW, ICJ: SIDE EVENT ON MYANMAR’S HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS FIVE YEARS AFTER THE ATTEMPTED COUP

On 12 March, the International Commission of Jurists and Human Rights Watch held a side event at the 61st session of the Human Rights Council titled 'Five Years After The Attempted Coup: Myanmar’s Human Rights Crisis, The Sham Elections, and The Path Forward’. The event brought together Myanmar civil society leaders and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews. ICJ (Zar Li Aye) highlighted the escalating persecution of lawyers defending political detainees and human rights defenders in Myanmar, calling for concrete international action to protect the lawyers, defend human rights defenders, and advance accountability.

LAW: ORAL STATEMENT ON THE SITUATION IN MYANMAR

On 13 March, Legal Action Worldwide delivered its oral statement on the situation in Myanmar during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar at the 61^st session of the Human Rights Council. According to LAW, there are “reasonable grounds to conclude that Myanmar’s security forces have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, including rape, sexual violence, torture, persecution, and murder,” and called on the Council to bolster accountability efforts and ensure that the Myanmar military is punished for past and ongoing international crimes. Previously, LAW also delivered an oral statement during the interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner on the Oral Update on Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar.

ICJ: ORAL STATEMENT ON THE SITUATION IN MYANMAR

On 13 March, the International Commission of Jurists delivered its oral statement on the situation in Myanmar during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar condemning the systematic erosion of fair trial rights and continued threats to lawyers and legal practitioners in Myanmar since the military coup of 1 February 2021. According to the ICJ, “Courts operating under the authority of the military have increasingly functioned as instruments of repression rather than institutions of justice. Numerous cases are summarily tried in a single day, during which witness examination, motions, and final judgment all are typically executed within hours.”

HRW: JUNTA'S CRIMES ESCALATE, STATES SHOULD REJECT SHAM ELECTIONS

On 13 March, Human Rights Watch delivered its oral statement on the situation in Myanmar during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar and urged States to reject the outcome of the fraudulent elections and the resulting so-called parliamentary body while renewing efforts to more effectively pressure and isolate the junta, while expanding humanitarian, political, and technical support for Myanmar civil society and political opposition groups.

BROUK: ‘A DISTURBING PATTERN OF SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE HAS EMERGED ALONGSIDE FORCED RECRUITMENT’

On 27 February, BROUK President Tun Khin addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council during the interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s oral update on the situation of Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar. In its intervention, BROUK warned the UN Human Rights Council that a disturbing pattern of sexual and gender-based violence has emerged against Rohingya women and girls in Rakhine State, alongside forced recruitment and other escalating abuses against Rohingya communities. Watch the full intervention here.

ABILA: CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY WEBINAR

On 23 March, the American Branch of the International Law Association organised a webinar on 'Towards an Effective and Universal Convention on Crimes Against Humanity'. Panellists discussed specific proposals on environmental harm, gender crimes, and starvation, as well as proposals to help make the treaty more effective, including inter-state dispute resolution, the possibility of a treaty monitoring body, and shoring up the prevention and capacity-building dimensions of the draft convention. Watch the full webinar recording here.

UNSR: ‘MYANMAR IN A SPIRALING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS’

On 13 March, Tom Andrews, the outgoing Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar presented his final report to the UN Human Rights Council. Andrews urged the Human Rights Council members to mount a high profile public defense of human rights in Myanmar and throughout the world, warning that a decline in measures that weaken the Myanmar junta’s capacity to attack civilians, and a reduction in life-saving aid could have devastating impacts if not reversed. Andrews called on governments committed to human rights and democracy to step up, halt the current slide, and rebuild momentum in support of the people of Myanmar and all whose human rights are under attack. Watch the full statement here.

AP NEWS: MYANMAR OPENED ITS FIRST PARLIAMENTARY SESSION IN FIVE YEARS

On 16 March, Myanmar’s parliament met for the first time in five years, following an election that did not include major opposition parties, ensuring that the ruling military is set to retain a firm grasp on power. The military and its allies hold nearly 90% of the seats in the two-chamber parliament. Min Aung Hlaing, who heads the current military government, is widely expected to assume the presidency.

UN: WOMEN-LED ORGANISATIONS SUSTAINING HUMANITARIAN ACCESS IN MYANMAR

On 19 March, UN Women published an evidence brief highlighting the critical role of women-led organisations (WLOs) and women’s rights organisations (WROs) in sustaining humanitarian access across Myanmar’s complex crisis environment. Developed through the Myanmar Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group, the brief draws on focus group discussions with 18 women-led and women’s rights organisations delivering humanitarian assistance across the country. The brief also highlights the need for greater recognition of WLOs and WROs as equal leaders, trusted partners, and decision-makers in locally driven humanitarian response.

GQUAL: NEW REPORT ON ACHIEVING GENDER PARITY

In March, GQUAL and UN Women launched a new report entitled “VOICES FROM THE BENCH: Women Shaping International Justice”. Drawing on 23 in-depth interviews with women judges, commissioners, mandate holders, and experts across international and regional justice bodies, the report offers a rare look inside institutions that shape international law, human rights protection, and global accountability.