WORKSHOP ON PROSECUTING ASIA-PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL CRIMES IN DOMESTIC COURTS

 

On 19-20 May, the Asia Justice Coalition, along with Griffith University and FIBGAR, co-hosted a workshop on “Prosecuting Asia-Pacific International Crimes in Domestic Courts" in Brisbane, Australia. The workshop convened more than 35 practitioners, academics, and civil society actors working across the international criminal justice field in the Asia-Pacific region including AJC members, Amnesty International, the Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University, the Centre for Policy Alternatives, the International Commission of Jurists, and Legal Action Worldwide.

 

Kaoru Okuizumi (Deputy Head, IIMM) and Antonia Mulvey (Executive Director, LAW) delivered the keynote addresses. The workshop witnessed discussions centred on the prosecution of atrocity crimes in Asia-Pacific, with a focus on universal jurisdiction and complementarity accountability mechanisms exploring broader forms of accountability. The presentations covered situations/cases from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, Timor-Leste, the Philippines and Afghanistan.

COALITION FOR A CONVENTION ON CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY INVITES NEW MEMBERS

 

As a member of the Steering Committee of the Coalition for a Convention on Crimes Against Humanity (C-CAH), Asia Justice Coalition is pleased to share the expressions of interest from civil society organisations and experts committed to advancing a global crimes against humanity convention. C-CAH is a civil society group composed of academics, NGOs, and other experts committed to working together to achieve an effective, victim/survivor-centric, and non-discriminatory crimes against humanity convention that will fight against impunity. The Coalition is values-based, focused on the progressive development of international law. Interested organisations and experts can submit an expression of interest to join the Coalition here.

 

AJC’S INPUT TO UN SR MYANMAR CITED IN THE REPORT

 

Asia Justice Coalition’s input to the former UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, was cited in his last report on ‘ From Impunity to Justice’. In its submission, AJC presented our approach towards accountability, reframing it from a broader lens that encompasses other ways of addressing harm that includes but is not limited to international criminal justice. The full submission is available here.

FORTIFY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL URGE ICC TO SEEK ARREST WARRANT FOR ATA ULLAH, LEADER OF ARAKAN ROHINGYA SALVATION ARMY

 

On 21 May, members of the Fortify Rights Leadership Council issued a public statement urging the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to seek an arrest warrant for Ata Ullah abu Ammar Jununi, the leader of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Rohingya civilians and others in Myanmar and Bangladesh. The statements come amid concern that Ata Ullah—arrested by authorities in Bangladesh on March 18, 2025—could eventually be released without facing prosecution for the full scope of alleged international crimes attributed to him and ARSA. The Fortify Rights Leadership Council noted that the ICC has already recognized jurisdiction over certain crimes linked to the Myanmar-Bangladesh situation because elements of those crimes occurred in Bangladesh. The statement urges the OTP to assess whether crimes attributed to Ata Ullah similarly fall within the Court’s jurisdiction.

 

AJAR: ‘ON RECEIVING THE MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF TIMOR-LESTE: WITH GRATITUDE TO SURVIVORS, FRIENDS, AND THE PEOPLE OF TIMOR-LESTE’

 

On 19 May, AJAR co-founders Patrick Burgess and Galuh Wandita received the Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste, in recognition of their long-standing contributions to the people of Timor-Leste. The Order of Timor-Leste is among the nation’s highest honours, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the people and nation of Timor-Leste. In official letters from the President of Timor Leste, the award was described as recognition of a “remarkable contribution” and a decoration of “exceptional importance and historical significance.”  For nearly three decades, both Galuh and Patrick have accompanied the people of Timor-Leste through periods of conflict, transition, truth-seeking, justice, and rebuilding.

 

BROUK: SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST ROHINGYA WOMEN AND GIRLS IN ARAKAN ARMY-CONTROLLED AREAS OF RAKHINE STATE

 

On 14 May, the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK published a briefing paper, “Sexual Violence Against Rohingya Women and Girls: Emerging patterns of abuse in Arakan Army-controlled areas of Rakhine State”, which documents escalating sexual violence linked to detention, forced recruitment and repression targeting Rohingya communities under Arakan Army’s control. Drawing on information collected from Rohingya sources between May 2024 and April 2026, the report documents patterns of gang rape, arbitrary detention, threats of sexual violence and abuse linked to recruitment raids and incommunicado detention. Documentation is concentrated in northern Rakhine State, particularly Maungdaw and Buthidaung.

HRW: ‘HUNDREDS KILLED AT HOYYAR SIRI IN 2024 AMID MILITARY INDIFFERENCE; SURVIVORS DENIED RETURN’

 

On 8 May, AJC member Human Rights Watch published a report, “‘Skeletons and Skulls Scattered Everywhere: Arakan Army Massacre of Rohingya Muslims in Hoyyar Siri, Myanmar”’, that documents the May 2, 2024 attack, in which Arakan Army fighters deliberately fired on unarmed villagers who were seeking safety after the armed group advanced on two Myanmar military bases in the vicinity. Details of the massacre only began emerging more than a year later, after some survivors fled to Bangladesh and Malaysia. The Arakan Army has rejected responsibility for the massacre at Hoyyar Siri, Buthidaung township, which involved grave violations of the laws of war amounting to war crimes. According to Meenakshi Ganguly (Deputy Asia Director, HRW), “Concerned governments should urgently press both the Myanmar junta and the Arakan Army to respect the rights of all communities in Rakhine State.”

 

AI: 30-POINT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY CONVENTION

 

On 7 May, Amnesty International published its 30-Point programme for the Convention on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity, which provides an overview of its recommendations for consideration by all UN member and observer states. In particular, it presents these recommendations with a view to the invitation to governments to submit to the UN Secretary-General proposals for amendments to the International Law Commission Draft Articles, to be included in a compiled text as a further basis for negotiations. UN member and observer states should consider ways to further strengthen the future Convention.

 

ICJ: WEBINAR ON TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE IN MYANMAR

 

On 6 May, the International Commission of Jurists held a webinar examining the evolving landscape of transitional justice in Myanmar. It brought together national and international experts to explore current challenges, emerging approaches, and opportunities to strengthen justice, accountability, and victims’ rights in a complex political context.

 

BROUK: UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION AS A TOOL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IN BURMA

 

On 5 May, AJC member Tun Khin (President, Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK) was featured on the USCIRF Spotlight podcast with Commissioner Stephen Schneck and Salai Za Uk Ling, the Executive Director of the Chin Human Rights Organization. The podcast centered on the principle of universal jurisdiction and how civil society organizations are seeking to prosecute responsible individuals through courts overseas for their part in ordering and carrying out genocide and crimes against humanity in Myanmar.

UN: CONFLICT-RELATED SEXUAL VIOLENCE CASES MORE THAN DOUBLED IN 2025

 

UN Special Representative Pramila Patten released the annual report on ‘Conflict Related Sexual Violence’. In 2025, amid escalating conflict, severe economic hardship, and mass displacement, reports of conflict-related sexual violence perpetrated predominantly by the Myanmar military against women, men, girls and boys and against LGBTQI persons continued to emerge. Following the earthquakes in March 2025, women and girls faced increased risks of sexual violence in overcrowded temporary shelters. In Myanmar, patterns of sexual violence continued to be used in detention settings as part of the repertoire of political violence to intimidate and punish opponents. In several settings, humanitarian access to detention sites remained constrained or blocked…(paras 50-55).

 

UNHCR: APPEAL FOR USD 710.5 MILLION TO MEET CRITICAL NEEDS OF ROHINGYA REFUGEES AND HOST COMMUNITIES

On 20 May, the United Nations and its partners, in close coordination with the Government of Bangladesh, appealed for USD 710.5 million to meet the most critical needs of Rohingya refugees in the Cox’s Bazar camps and on Bhasan Char, as well as local host communities. The call comes amid growing global instability and rising humanitarian pressures, which have forced difficult prioritization and threatened essential services for vulnerable populations. The USD 710.5 million appeal—26% lower than in 2025—covers only the minimum required to sustain lifesaving assistance.

 

‘META BEATS HATE SPEECH SUIT OVER ROLE IN MYANMAR GENOCIDE’

 

On April 28, the Courthouse News Service reported that the Meta won’t have to face a suit accusing Facebook of failing to curb hate speech fueling Myanmar’s brutal Rohingya genocide by encouraging violent online content as per a ruling by the Ninth Circuit panel. The panel found the claims barred under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Two anonymous Rohingya plaintiffs initiated a class action against Meta in 2022, seeking at least $150 billion for harms from product liability and negligence.

ICC CONFIRMS ARREST WARRANT AGAINST RONALD MARAPON DELA ROSA FOR ALLEGED CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY AND SETS DATE FOR DUTERTE’S TRIAL

 

On 11 May, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “the Court”) unsealed an arrest warrant for Ronald Marapon Dela Rosa, which had originally been issued as secret on 6 November 2025. Mr Dela Rosa, a longtime ally of former ​Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, is alleged to have committed the crime against humanity of murder (article 7(1)(a) of the Rome Statute), at least between 3 July 2016 and the end of April 2018, in the Republic of the Philippines. Relatedly, Trial Chamber III of the International Criminal Court scheduled the opening of the trial in the case of  The Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte  for 30 November 2026.

 

ASEAN CHAIR STATEMENT ON MYANMAR

 

On 9 May, ASEAN Chair, The Philippines, released its statement of the 48th ASEAN Summit. “We emphasised our support for Myanmar’s commitment to the safety and security of all communities in Rakhine State and the safe, dignified, voluntary return of displaced persons....We expressed our deep concern over the continued escalation of conflict, humanitarian situation in Myanmar, and the minimal progress on the implementation of the ASEAN Leaders’ Five-Point Consensus (5PC)…We took note of the deliberations of the Senior Officials on the Non-Paper on the Elements for the Terms of Reference of the Special Envoy of ASEAN on Myanmar”.

 

TIMOR-LESTE UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION CASE UPDATE

On 4 May, the Chin Human Rights Organisation and Myanmar Accountability Project published an update on their universal jurisdiction case in Timor-Leste, informing that a complaint has been formally submitted to the Court of First Instance in Dilli for judicial review. Jose Teixeira, the lead lawyer in the case, from the Timorese law firm Da Silva Teixeira & Associados, said “there is a legal obligation to open an investigation and we believe the court will make this determination.