AJC’s SUBMISSION TO THE OHCHR ON ARMS TRANSFER AND HUMAN RIGHTS

The Asia Justice Coalition submitted its input to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for their report on the impact of arms transfers on human rights to be presented at the 51st session of the Human Rights Council. In the written submission, the Coalition highlights the continuing and extensive arms transfer to Myanmar and the consequent impact it has on the human rights of children. The submission specifically focuses on the nexus between arms transfer and the increasing use and recruitment of children.

AJC’s SUBMISSION TO THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON CHILDREN’S RIIGHTS

The Asia Justice Coalition provided input to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews for his report concerning the 'violations of children’s rights in Myanmar' to be presented at the 50th session of the Human Rights Council. The submission is a shortened version of the OHCHR input.

CPJ–ICJ WEBINAR SERIES: SESSION 9 – ‘THE POLITICS AND IMPLICATIONS OF THE US GENOCIDE DETERMINATION'

On 11 April, the Refugee Studies Unit at the Centre of Peace and Justice (CPJ-BRAC) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) held the ninth session of its webinar series. The session supported by the Asia Justice Coalition was addressed by Dr. Ronan Lee on 'The Politics and Implications of the US Genocide Determination'. The recording of the event with Rohingya translation is available here.

BROUK URGES MALAYSIA TO ALLOW INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO ROHINGYA REFUGEE INCIDENT

On 22 April, BROUK released a statement calling on the Malaysian government to conduct an independent and transparent inquiry into the killing of six (including women and children) of the 500 Rohingya refugees who attempted to flee from a temporary immigration centre in Penang.

HRW: ASEAN’S FAILED ‘5-POINT CONSENSUS’ A YEAR ON

On 22 April, Human Rights Watch called on ASEAN to act immediately and effectively to deter the military junta from committing further atrocities in Myanmar. Highlighting the failure of the Five-Point Consensus to halt the violence and attacks in Myanmar, HRW calls on the ASEAN Member States to impose restrictions on Myanmar’s foreign currency revenues and weapons purchases.

AMNESTY: ‘INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST DO MORE TO PROTECT BRAVE PROTESTERS’

On 22 April, to mark the one-year anniversary of the Five-Point Consensus, Amnesty International called on ASEAN to unequivocally condemn all human rights violations in Myanmar and demand the release of all individuals who are arbitrarily detained. The statement further called on ASEAN to ensure that the Myanmar military immediately stops all violence.

HRW: SUPPORT ROHINGYA EDUCATION IN BANGLADESH REFUGEE CAMPS

On 19 April, Human Rights Watch co-signed a letter with the European Rohingya Council, and 37 other concerned groups to Canada, Denmark, the European Commission, Germany, Japan, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States, about the government of Bangladesh’s closure of schools for Rohingya refugee children. The letter calls for the reversal of the school closure in the refugee camps and allows the operation of Rohingya community-led schools and humanitarian funding to support formal, accredited education for Rohingya students.

AJC SECRETARIAT’S VISION STATEMENT FOR CO-IMPACT GENDER FUND

Asia Justice Coalition secretariat head Dr. Priya Pillai shares the vision statement for the Co-Impact Gender Fund. AJC has been shortlisted and granted a Co-Impact Gender Fund Grant 2022. Watch the video here.

AJAR: ‘MYANMAR: REGIONAL BLOC MUST MOVE BEYOND THE FAILED CONSENSUS’

On 28 April, Asia Justice and Rights signed a letter condemning the inaction of ASEAN and urged the regional bloc to move beyond the Consensus and align its efforts with the international community to immediately and meaningfully address the dire situation in Myanmar.

FORTIFY RIGHTS, HRW, AI: RESTORE AND STRENGTHEN CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY-LED SCHOOLS IN ROHINGYA CAMPS

On 28 April, Fortify Rights, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International released a joint statement with 22 other organisations expressing concerns about the forced closure of the community-led schools in the Rohingya refugee camps. The statement called on the Bangladesh government to ensure access to education for all Rohingya children by re-opening the schools and according to them the requisite legal status.

AJC SECRETARIAT ACTIVITIES

Asia Justice Coalition secretariat head Dr. Priya Pillai was in conversation with Dr. Arghya Sengupta (Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy) on the role of international and international judicial bodies related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and India's response to the same. Listen to the podcast here.

'AUNG SAN SUU KYI CONVICTED FOR FIVE YEARS IN CORRUPTION CASE'

On 27 April, Al Jazeera reported that the former State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi has been convicted for 5 years in the first of 11 corruption cases by a military court in Myanmar. The 5 years sentence adds to the 6 years imprisonment already awarded to her in December in previous cases.

‘UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY MANDATES MEETING IN WAKE OF ANY SECURITY COUNCIL VETO’ 

On 28 April, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution without a vote that will facilitate a General Assembly meeting automatically within 10 days when a veto is cast in the Security Council by one of its five permanent members.

‘CHILDREN OF MYANMAR’S CONFLICT ZONES DEPRIVED OF KEY IMMUNIZATIONS’

On 21 April, Radio Free Asia reported that children belonging to families that have fled Myanmar have been severely deprived of essential immunizations due to a lack of access to health care. The children are at risk of stunted growth, severe illness, and even death from otherwise treatable medical conditions.

‘‘USING CITIZENSHIP AS A WEAPON’ MYANMAR MILITARY TARGETS CRITICS’

On 20 April, Al Jazeera reported that since March, the Myanmar military has terminated the citizenship of 33 high-profile dissidents on the account of ‘acts that could harm the interests of Myanmar’. The list of targeted people includes former diplomats, members of NUG, celebrities and activists.

‘DESPITE RISK OF DEATH, THAILAND SENDS MYANMAR REFUGEES BACK’

On 8 April, the Associated Press reported that Thailand sent thousands of refugees fleeing attacks by the military junta back to Myanmar despite the international law obligation of ‘non-refoulement’.