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AJC PUBLISHED A BACKGROUNDER ON THE MLA CONVENTION
On 17 March, in the run-up to the diplomatic conference in May 2023, Asia Justice Coalition published a backgrounder which addresses the Draft Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) Convention. The backgrounder serves as an easy-to-understand explainer of what is meant by 'mutual legal assistance' and 'extradition', what the proposed MLA Convention offers and its relevance for Asian States, and how the Draft Convention relates to the Rome Statute and the proposed Crimes Against Humanity Treaty.
HRW: ‘BANGLADESH - HALT ‘PILOT’ PLAN TO RETURN ROHINGYA’
On 31 March, Human Rights Watch called on Bangladesh authorities to suspend plans to send Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar. According to HRW, ‘Rohingya were lied to, deceived, or otherwise coerced by Bangladesh administrators into meeting with a recent delegation of Myanmar junta officials as part of a “pilot repatriation” effort to return about 1,000 refugees. Some were told the meetings concerned possible resettlement to a third country.’
CPJ: LECTURE ON THE ROHINGYA REFUGEE CRISIS
On 21 March, AJC member Barrister Manzoor Hasan, OBE (Executive Director, Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University) delivered a lecture on 'Rohingya Refugee Crisis: Restrategising the Future’ at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies.
HRW: ‘CONCRETE UN SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION NEEDED’
On 13 March, Human Rights Watch called on the United Nations Security Council to build on its December 2022 resolution on Myanmar by adopting tangible measures to hold the junta accountable for ongoing abuses. In light of the disregard of the December resolution by the Myanmar' military, HRW called for actions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, including instituting a global arms embargo, referring the country’s situation to the International Criminal Court, and imposing targeted sanctions on junta leadership and military-owned companies.
AJAR: ‘MYANMAR: CHILDREN’S ART COMPETITION TO COMMEMORATE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE RIGHT TO TRUTH’
In February, Asia Justice and Rights organised the ‘Revolt and Resist for the Right to Truth’ Children’s Art Competition to commemorate International Day for the #RightToTruth. The Competition witnessed participation from migrant learning centres along the Thai-Burma border in Mae Sot, refugee camps in Karenni State, Rohingya refugee camps.
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AJC SUBMISSION TO THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
On 2 March, Asia Justice Coalition responded to a call for input by the Special Rapporteur and highlighted the impact of armed conflict on trafficking within the context of the situation in Myanmar and Rohingya. The submission argues that the continued impunity of the military junta in Myanmar and the ongoing practice of pushbacks in the region in violation of the international legal obligation to prevent refoulement contribute to and further exacerbate the conditions enabling trafficking.
BHRN, BROUK: ‘UN SECRETARY-GENERAL INTERVENE IN ROHINGYA REPATRIATION ‘PILOT PROJECT’ AND INVESTIGATE UNHCR AND WFP’S INVOLVEMENT’
On 20 March, the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK and Burma Human Rights Network joined 200+ civil society organizations to strongly condemn UN’s participation in the so-called ‘pilot project’ by facilitating a visit of the Myanmar military junta to Cox’s Bazar to repatriate Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar. The statement called on the UN Secretary-General to investigate the operations of UN agencies in Myanmar and ensure that their involvement and contribution do not lead to further human rights violations of the people of Myanmar.
AI: THAILAND MUST NOT DEPORT MYANMAR NATIONALS FOLLOWING INTERROGATION
On 24 March, Amnesty International called on the Thai authorities to not deport over Myanmar 100 nationals after apartment searches and interrogation in Mae Sot, Tak Province, back to a country where they could face imprisonment, torture, and even the death penalty at the hands of the Myanmar military. Amnesty called on Thailand to uphold the principle of non-refoulement and domestic legal obligations under its Torture Act.
HRW: STATEMENT AT THE INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE MYANMAR SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR AT THE 52nd HRC
On 20 March, Human Rights Watch expressed its regret on the watered-down December 2022 UN Security Council resolution on Myanmar with almost no actionable language. HRW called on UN Member States to impose coordinated targeted sanctions and monitor its enforcement, cut off the junta’s access to the extractive revenue, weapons, and aviation fuel.
FORTIFY RIGHTS: ‘2023 TASWEER PHOTO FESTIVAL QATAR FEATURES ROHINGYA PHOTOGRAPHERS’
On 16 March, Fortify Rights reported that the photography of three ethnic-Rohingya refugee artists and genocide survivors from Myanmar is being featured at a major art exhibition in Doha, Qatar. The 2023 Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar is showing the award-winning photography of Omal Khair, Dil Kayas, and Azimul Hasson, authors of
A Chance to Breathe, a new book of exclusive photography and poetry published with the support of Fortify Rights et al.
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BROUK, BHRN: OPEN LETTER TO THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
On 1 March, the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK and Burma Human Rights Network joined over 160 civil society organizations and called on Human Rights Council to take concrete actions to advance accountability through all possible avenues, protect human rights of the Myanmar people, and strongly support their will for federal democracy.
AMNESTY: ‘NEW SHIPMENTS OF AVIATION FUEL REVEALED DESPITE THE MILITARY’S WAR CRIMES’
On 1 March, Amnesty International reported that the aviation fuel shipments to Myanmar have continued despite the military’s ongoing war crimes after having identified more companies involved in the supply chain. According to Amnesty, ‘Swiss-registered multinational fuel company Puma Energy, which committed to withdrawing from Myanmar in October 2022, decided to sell its aviation fuel assets to a Myanmar business group which has imported fuel for the military’.
GJC: PODCAST ON THE ICC IN UKRAINE AND ITS POTENTIAL FOR SITUATION IN MYANMAR/BANGLADESH
On 20 March, AJC member Akila Radhakrishnan (President, Global Justice Center) spoke with Asymmetrical Haircuts about the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants in Ukraine and highlighted the need for progress in other situations before the Court, including Myanmar/Bangladesh.
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HRW: ‘MYANMAR JUNTA DISSOLVES POLITICAL PARTIES’
On 29 March, Human Rights Watch condemned the dissolution of the National League for Democracy and other 40 political parties and groups for failing to meet a political party registration deadline imposed under the new Political Party Registration Law. HRW called on ‘the concerned governments, including regional partners such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan, and India, to not be fooled into thinking that the junta’s new election laws and regulations can be the basis for a credible electoral process.’
AJC SECRETARIAT ACTIVITIES
On 13-14 March, Asia Justice Coalition secretariat head Priya Pillai and Akila Radhakrishnan (President, Global Justice Center) attended a two-day expert meeting with mission legal advisors, and government representatives on the proposed Crimes Against Humanity Convention organised by the Permanent Missions of Germany and France to the United Nations and Prof. Leila Sadat (Washington University & Yale University Law Schools). From 29 March - 1 April, secretariat head Priya Pillai attended the American Society of International Law's Annual Meeting in Washington DC, of which she was the co-chair.
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"HOPE IS RARE NOW IN MYANMAR’, UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL HEARS’
On 6 March, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk presented his latest report to the Human Rights Council and called on UN Member States to do their utmost to deliver humanitarian support directly to Myanmar’s people, including by channeling operations through grassroots organizations. According to him, the Rohingya community faces ‘a bleak present and worse future’ and emphasised that ‘there will be no durable vision for the future without accountability for the cruel violence of the past’.
UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON MYANMAR AT HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
On 20 March, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews presented his latest report to the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council. According to him, ‘two years after the military staged an illegal coup in Myanmar, it continues to wage a campaign of violence and oppression to crush widespread public opposition.’ He called for a ‘formation of a working coalition of Member States to identify actions that will have the greatest impact and then coordinate their implementation.’
UNHCR STATEMENT ON BANGLADESH, MYANMAR BILATERAL PILOT PROJECT ON ROHINGYA RETURNS
On 19 March, UNHCR released a statement clarifying that it is not involved in the Myanmar-Bangladesh ‘pilot project’. According to UNHCR, ‘its position on returns of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar remains unchanged. In UNHCR’s assessment, conditions in Myanmar’s Rakhine State are currently not conducive to the sustainable return of Rohingya refugees’.
‘UN EXPERT DECRIES LAUNCH OF “SHAMEFUL, CATASTROPHIC CUTS” IN FOOD AID FOR ROHINGYA IN BANGLADESH’
On 2 March, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews made an urgent appeal to Member States to reverse “the shameful, catastrophic cuts” to food rations for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The UN expert issued the plea in a letter to UN Member States highlighting that ‘these rations cuts are a stain on the conscience’.
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UN SG SPECIAL ENVOY ON MYANMAR AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
On 16 March, the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Myanmar Ms Noeleen Heyzer briefed the UN General Assembly. According to her, ‘military’s proposed elections in the absence of inclusive political dialogue and conditions that permit citizens to freely exercise their political rights without fear or intimidation risk exacerbating the violence. There is no public trust in the regime, whose interest is seen as consolidating its control by making a transition from emergency rule to a longer-term military-backed government.’
UN EXPERTS: ‘SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES MUST STAND UP TO JUNTA’S ONLINE TERROR CAMPAIGN’
On 13 March, UN experts called on Telegram and other social media platforms to meet their responsibilities to identify, prevent, and mitigate human rights abuses. According to the experts, ‘Myanmar’s military junta is orchestrating an online campaign of terror, and weaponising social media platforms to crush democratic opposition.’
‘UNHCR, PARTNERS SEEK $876M FOR ROHINGYA REFUGEES FACING ‘CHILLING FOG OF UNCERTAINTY’ AND FOR BANGLADESHI HOSTS’
On 7 March, UNHCR, and its partners called on the international community to redouble efforts for sustained financial support and solutions for Rohingya refugees and the Bangladeshi communities that are hosting them as the dire situation enters its sixth year. Under the leadership of the Bangladeshi authorities, the 2023 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis calls for $876 million to reach 1.47 million people.
UN OCHA: OVER 1.3 MILLION INTERNALLY DISPLACED SINCE THE FEBRUARY 2021 COUP
On 4 March, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released its 27th Myanmar Humanitarian Update and observed that Martial law is now declared in 47 townships across multiple states and regions and the number of displaced men, women, and children since the military coup has crossed over 1.3 million.
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