AJC SHORTLISTED FOR THE CO-IMPACT GENDER FUND

The Asia Justice Coalition (AJC) has been shortlisted and granted a Co-Impact Gender Fund Grant 2022. As a part of Co-Impact's Women-in-Leadership in Law category, the AJC secretariat will work on a four-year-long project titled 'Women Leaders in International Justice & Accountability' in three jurisdictions of Asia namely, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India.

AJC STATEMENT ON ICJ PRELIMINARY OBJECTIONS HEARINGS

On 11 March, the Asia Justice Coalition released a statement on the preliminary objections hearings in The Gambia v. Myanmar at the International Court of Justice. The AJC emphasizes the need for all avenues for justice and accountability to be pursued, in order to address serious violations of international law and also reiterated its call for Myanmar to fully comply with the ICJ’s 2020 provisional measures order.

BROUK: ARGENTINIAN JUDICIARY ASKS FACEBOOK TO CLARIFY ROLE IN ROHINGYA GENOCIDE

On 7 March, BROUK reported that through an order dated 24 February, the Argentine judiciary has requested Facebook to share evidence of anti-Rohingya hate speech on its platform, including from accounts linked to senior Myanmar military officials.

HRW CALL ON AUSTRALIA & JAPAN TO IMPOSE TARGETED SANCTIONS ON MYANMAR MILITARY

On 27 March, given the legislative framework is in place, the Human Rights Watch called upon the Australian and Japanese governments to move beyond expressing ‘grave concerns’ on the situation in Myanmar and impose targeted sanctions on the military junta and military-owned companies.

GJC: PANEL DISCUSSION ON AVENUES TO ACCOUNTABILIY: SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN MYANMAR

On 14 March, the Global Justice Center held its panel discussion on ‘Avenues to Accountability: Sexual Violence in Myanmar’. The panel included: Wai Wai Nu (Women’s Peace Network), Naw Wah Ku Shee (Karen Peace Support Network), Ambassador Kelly Currie (Former US Ambassador-at-Large, Global Women’s Issues), Esther Ze Naw (Karen Peace Network), and Akila Radhakrishnan (GJC). The event recordings (with Burmese translations) are available here.

BHRN CONDEMNS THE FORCEFUL EVICTION OF ANTI-COUP PROTESTORS

On 15 March, BHRN condemned the destruction of civilian properties including homes and shops on the alleged ground of ‘non-availability of tenancy documents’, in Yangon’s Hlaing Thar Yar township, Rakhine State’s capital Sittwe and various towns in the Mandalay region. More than 80,000 people, especially those resisting the military coup have been evicted since 5 March.

HRW CALL ON FOREIGN DONORS TO PRESSURE BANGLADESH TO ALLOW REFUGEE EDUCATION

On 21 March, Human Rights Watch called on the foreign donor governments (the EU, the US) to put pressure on the Bangladesh government to reverse the imposition of restrictions on Rohingya children’s education. The Bangladesh officials are threatening to confiscate Rohingya refugees’ identity documents and forcibly relocate them to a remote, flood-prone island if they violate an arbitrary ban on refugee-led schools.

AJC MEMBERS ON THE US RECOGNITION OF THE ROHINGYA GENOCIDE

On 21 March, the United States government formally determined that the Myanmar military committed genocide and crime against humanity against Rohingya in Myanmar. AJC members BROUK, BHRN, GJC, GCR2P, Fortify Rights, Amnesty International, HRW, and LAW welcomed the recognition of the crimes committed against the Rohingya and called for a global arms embargo and reference of the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court for a full investigation.

ICJ DELIVERS ORAL STATEMENTS AT THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

On 21 and 18 March, the International Commission of Jurists delivered oral statements before the UN Human Rights Council during dialogues with the UN Secretary-General and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calling for accountability for crimes and human rights violations, including arbitrary stripping of citizenship, in Myanmar.

FORTIFY RIGHTS REPORT ON POST-COUP CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

On 24 March, Fortify Rights and the Schell Center for International Human Rights have published a new report based on 120 interviews that highlight how the Myanmar military committed international crimes during the first six months of the coup; identifies over 60 alleged military/police perpetrators, and reveals the military chain of command. The recording of the report release is available here.

LAW: PANEL DISCUSSION ON JUSTICE FOR THE ROHINGYA

On 29 March, Legal Action Worldwide along with the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations in Geneva organised an online side event ‘Justice for the Rohingya: An Urgent Call’ to the 49^th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. The panel included: Prof. Payam Akhavan, Prof. Yanghee Lee, Nicholas Koumjian, and Yasmin Ullah.

UN HUMAN RIGHTS HIGH COMMISSIONER SUBMITS MYANMAR REPORT

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet submitted her Myanmar country report documenting human rights in Myanmar since 1 February 2021 for the 49th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council. It can be downloaded here.

ICC PROSECUTOR CONCLUDES HIS FIRST BANGLADESH COUNTRY VISIT

On 1 March, the International Criminal Court reported that Prosecutor Karim Khan concluded a five-day visit to Dhaka and Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. During the visit, Prosecutor Khan met with Bangladesh Prime Minister and other senior government representatives, diplomatic corps, civil society members, and Rohingya women and activists at the refugee camp.

BANGLADESH ARRESTS A CLERIC FOR THE KILLING OF ROHINGYA LEADER

On 6 March, France24 reported that Bangladesh police has arrested a Muslim cleric who allegedly issued an execution edict against a prominent Rohingya activist Mohibullah killed in September 2021. 

UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON MYANMAR SUBMITS REPORT AT HRC

On 21 March, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Myanmar submitted his Myanmar report to the UN Human Rights Council. According to him, “war crimes and crimes against humanity are being committed every day with impunity by the military junta of Myanmar”. He called on the Council and its Member States to “stand with and for the people of Myanmar with not only words but even more importantly, with action”.

ASEAN SPECIAL ENVOY VISITS MYANMAR

On 23 March, Reuters reported that Prak Sokhonn, special envoy for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), concluded his three-day visit to Myanmar. During his visit, “he had urged Myanmar's ruling military to show restraint during offensives and was told by the junta leader there would be no access to ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi while her trial was ongoing.”