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Screenshot by BROUK from remote court proceedings. |
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AJC STATEMENT:
END IMPUNITY IN MYANMAR NOW
On 25 August 2021, marking the four years since the commission of mass atrocities against the Rohingya, the Coalition published a joint statement calling for: (1) a UN Security Council referral of Myanmar to the ICC; (2) accountability for Myanmar's lack of compliance with ICJ Provisional Measures; (3) support for the IIMM; and (4) instituting cases against relevant individuals under universal jurisdiction.
Members each made important statements available on their websites (see here).
A further Coalition symposium will appear on the blog
Opinio Juris in September.
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BROUK:
ROHINGYA WOMEN SPEAK IN ARGENTINE COURT
On 18 August 2021, in Rohingya women in Cox's Bazar spoke remotely to the Federal Criminal Appeals Court in Bueno Aires, Argentina.
Although a technical--and not an evidentiary--hearing, it marked the first time survivors of the 2017 violence had been heard in a court of law.
The developments occurred in proceedings brought by Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) in Argentina under universal jurisdiction and filed in 2019.
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Fencing encloses the Rohingya refugee camp on the island of Bhasan Char, off the coast of Bangladesh. © 2021 Private via HRW |
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HRW:
UN SHOULDN'T OPERATE ON BHASAN CHAR UNTIL FREE MOVEMENT ASSURED
On 24 August 2021, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a statement raising alarm after a fishing boat carrying more than 40 Rohingya refugees fleeing Bangladesh’s remote Bhasan Char island capsized leaving at least 11 dead. HRW documented the experiences of survivors.
The dispatch urges the Bangladesh government to allow freedom of movement of Rohingya refugees who have been relocated to the island, permitting refugees to reunite with families at the settlement in Cox’s Bazar. This follows earlier concerns regarding the risks to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh during monsoon season.
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CPJ:
DEMOCRATIC STRUGGLE MUST RECOGNISE ROHINGYA RIGHTS, AMPLIFY VOICES
Two opinion pieces by Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ), Brac University researchers highlight the importance inclusion of the Rohingya people in any democratic and accountability processes regarding Myanmar.
See here and here, as well as here the personal reflections of CPJ Executive Director Manzoor Hasan on the four years since the atrocities against the Rohingya.
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AJAR:
LAUNCH OF UDHR EXPLAINER AND SMART PHONE APP
To recognise the anniversary of atrocities, Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR), together with the Liberation War Museum, #Sisters2Sisters and other local partners conducted a 14-day campaign (#WithTheRohingya) to highlight the resilience of the Rohingya and amplify their calls for justice and inclusion. The campaign began on International Youth Day, and its activities included the launch of a five-minute video animation explaining the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), made available in Rohingya, Burmese and English Languages, and a smart-phone application titled ‘UDHR Flash Cards.’ See more from AJAR here. |
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CIVIL SOCIETY SEND
OPEN LETTER TO
US SECRETARY OF STATE
Dated 10 August 2021, an open letter signed by ninety-five civil society organizations urged US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to publicly determine that the state of Myanmar has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the Rohingya people.
AJC members Burma Human Rights Network, BROUK, Fortify Rights, and the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect were amongst the signatories. This call comes after the US stated it was reviewing a potential 'genocide' determination in March 2021.
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NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT SUBMITS LETTER TO ICC ON JURISDICTION
On 20 August 2021, the National Unity Government (NUG) announced it formally submitted a letter to the International Criminal Court (ICC) recognising jurisdiction for crimes committed in Myanmar since 2002.
An August 2021 legal analysis by AJC member Fortify Rights on NUG delegation to the ICC can be found here.
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SPECIAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR MYANMAR RELEASES BRIEFING PAPER ON RECOGNITION
On 23 August 2021, the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) released a briefing paper on international law and practice on recognition of governments ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting later in September. The SAC-M, a group of independent international experts, concludes that while it will be a matter for States to decide which government to formally recognise regarding Myanmar, the NUG alone meets the criteria for international recognition.
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LATEST SECRETARY-GENERAL REPORT ON THE SCOPE OF UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION
Ahead of the seventy-sixth session of the UN General Assembly beginning 14 September, the Secretary-General released the latest report on the scope and use of universal jurisdiction. Sixteen States and 4 international bodies contributed. Full submissions can be found at the General Assembly's Sixth (Legal) Committee website here.
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60 YEARS OF THE STATELESSNESS CONVENTION
August marked the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the 1961
Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. While celebrating reductions in statelessness since its adoption, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, highlighted the ever-present need for ensuring the rights of, and safeguards for, stateless persons.
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR REPORTS IN AUGUST
On long-term detention of human rights defenders, see here.
On the human rights of migrants during COVID-19, see here. |
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