AJC - ICJ WEBINAR ON CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

On 6 June, Asia Justice Coalition and the International Commission of Jurists co-hosted a webinar on ‘Crimes Against Humanity Convention at the UNGA Sixth Committee: The Potential and Relevance for Asia?’ with Judge Kriangsak Kittichaisaree, Judge Maria Natércia Gusmão Pereira, Prof. Kingsley Abbott, Dr Cheah W.L., and Dr Priya Pillai on the panel. The recording of the discussion is available here.

AJC: SUBMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR'S (OTP) 2014 POLICY PAPER ON SEXUAL & GENDER-BASED CRIMES 

On 19 June, Asia Justice Coalition responded to a call for input by the OTP's to revise the 2014 Policy Paper on Sexual and Gender-based Crimes. In the written submission, AJC focused on three areas; the first to consider the effective use of cumulative charging for sexual and gender-based crimes. Second, for the OTP to include charges of command or superior responsibility in more cases to hold commanders and civilian officials responsible for the full range of gender-crimes committed. Third, the submission focused on operationalising gender equality at the court by conducting a gender analysis.

FORTIFY RIGHTS: INVESTIGATE & HOLD OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR ROLES IN ROHINGYA HUMAN TRAFFICKING SYNDICATE

On 29 June, Fortify Rights called on the Malaysian authorities to open a new investigation into mass graves of Rohingya discovered in Wang Kelian and prosecute Malaysian officials already found to be negligent in the detection, investigation, and prosecution of a human trafficking syndicate for trafficking of ethnic Rohingya from Myanmar to Malaysia in 2015.

BHRN: THE BURMA HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK WELCOMES THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SANCTIONS

On 26 June, Burma Human Rights Network welcomed the newly imposed sanctions by the U.S. Government on the Burmese junta’s Ministry of Defense and two banks illegally seized and used by the military to buy arms and other related material from foreign sources that are needed for the junta’s ongoing commission of atrocity crimes.

AJC PUBLISHED A PRIMER ON REPARATIONS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW

On 8 June, Asia Justice Coalition published a primer on reparations under international law. The primer serves as an easy-to-understand explainer of what is meant by reparations in international law, whether reparations are enforceable, if yes, who has the right to seek reparations, and what has been the practice in Asia.

AJC - CPJ: WIJA PROJECT PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT

On 20 June, Asia Justice Coalition announced its new partnership with the Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University in Bangladesh for its Women Leaders in International Justice and Accountability (WIJA) Project. AJC is excited to start this meaningful work for bringing together women leaders in Bangladesh to develop their leadership in international law. This project aims to facilitate constructive dialogue around critical issues of international justice and accountability in Asia.

HRW: MYANMAR JUNTA BLOCKS LIFESAVING CYCLONE AID

On 20 June, Human Rights Watch released its statement extensively documenting how the Myanmar military junta has obstructed the delivery of humanitarian aid since Cyclone Mocha across the country and the consequent impact on civilians. HRW called on the governments to press the junta to lift all restrictions on aid delivery without relenting on the need to hold junta officials responsible for their ongoing human rights abuses.

LAW: SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN MYANMAR NEED PROTECTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY

On 19 June, Legal Action Worldwide released a statement to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict and called on the International Criminal Court to strengthen the investigation to ensure justice for survivors of SGBV. It further called on States to effectively utilise universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute conflict-related sexual violence and other atrocity crimes that take place in Myanmar.

GJC: ‘Progress, Resistance, and Silence on Gender Justice in the Draft Crimes Against Humanity Treaty’

On 6 June, Asia Justice Coalition member Tess Graham (Legal Advisor, Global Justice Center) published a blog post and highlighted the potential of the Draft Crimes Against Humanity treaty to advance gender justice.

BHRN: PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE ROHINGYA & OTHER MINORITIES AT THE HRC

On 21 June, AJC member Kyaw Win (Burma Human Rights Network) participated in a panel discussion on 'Human Rights Violations Against Rohingya and Other Minorities' at the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council, Geneva. Watch the full discussion here (1:00:00 onwards).

HRW: MYANMAR: LAWYERS FACE HARASSMENT, ARRESTS

On 8 June, Human Rights Watch released a new report entitled "'Our Numbers are Dwindling’: Myanmar’s Post-Coup Crackdown on Lawyers" documenting how the Myanmar military junta has threatened and harassed lawyers trying to defend the rights of protesters and others arbitrarily detained since the February 2021 coup. The report examines the junta authorities’ pattern of harassment, surveillance, arrests, and, in some cases, torture of lawyers since the coup, particularly those taking on political cases.

ICJ: REPORT ON THE VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF SINCE COUP D’ÉTAT IN MYANMAR

On 29 June, the International Commission of Jurists released an update to its report October 2022 report entitled: “Violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief since the  coup d’état in Myanmar”. This publication provides an overview of the violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief perpetrated in the period between the 2021 military  coup, on 1 February 2021, and 30 April 30 2023.

LAW: SUBMISSION ON ICC OTP 2016 POLICY PAPER ON CHILDREN

In June, Legal Action Worldwide submitted an input to the Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court, for consideration in updating its 2016 Policy Paper on Children. It explores four areas: (1) children’s participation in proceedings; (2) crimes against and affecting children; (3) an intersectional and trauma-informed approach, and (4) greater inclusivity and gender competence, including for children of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity.

BHRN: FURTHER CUTS TO ROHINGYA FOOD AID WILL DEVASTATE REFUGEES

On 6 June, in light of devastating food cuts in the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, the Burma Human Rights Network called on donor governments to fund and develop a plan to reinstate full rations for refugees. According to BHRN, ‘restrictions on refugees in Bangladesh and aid cuts may push Rohingya back to Burma. Repatriation at this time is dangerous, and there is still an ongoing genocide in Burma against the Rohingya’.  

AJC SECRETARIAT ACTIVITIES

From 19 – 23 June, the Asia Justice Coalition secretariat staff participated in the 2023 International Criminal Court – NGO Roundtable co-convened by the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC). The Roundtable provided an opportunity to engage with the Court’s staff and officials from various organs and offices, on all matters related to the situations before the Court, including Myanmar/Bangladesh.

UN EXPERTS DECRY DEVASTATING SECOND ROUND OF RATIONS CUTS FOR ROHINGYA REFUGEES IN BANGLADESH

On 1 June, UN experts (Thomas Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar; Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food; Prof. Olivier De Schutter, Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights) condemned a second cut in food rations for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh [a]fter a funding shortfall of US$56 million compelled the World Food Programme to enforce the cuts. The cuts will reduce the value of rations provided to Rohingya refugees to US$8 per month, or 27 cents per day. The experts warned that the cuts will have devastating consequences for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and make life in the camps even more untenable. The experts implored UN Member States to urgently fund the humanitarian response in Bangladesh, ensuring the restoration of full rations for refugees.

UN EXPERT URGES COORDINATED ACTION BY INDONESIA AND OTHER NATIONS TO ADDRESS MYANMAR CRISIS

On 29 June, Tom Andrews, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, concluded his nine-day mission to Indonesia and called for coordinated action by Indonesia to address the deepening crisis in Myanmar. He also urged the country to play a bigger role in resolving the crisis as the current Chair of ASEAN and ASEAN to take measures to hold the junta accountable for its grave human rights violations and blatant disregard for implementation of the Five-Point Consensus.

BANGLADESH MUST SUSPEND PILOT PROJECT TO RETURN ROHINGYA REFUGEES TO MYANMAR

On 8 June, Tom Andrews, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar called on Bangladesh to immediately suspend a pilot repatriation project for Rohingya to return to Myanmar, where they face serious risks to their lives and liberty. According to the Special Rapporteur “conditions in Myanmar are anything but conducive for the safe, dignified, sustainable, and voluntary return of Rohingya refugees. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who commanded the forces that launched the genocidal attacks against the Rohingya, now leads a brutal military junta that is attacking civilian populations while denying the Rohingya citizenship and other basic rights”.

UNHCR, NRC, & IDMC: Global Displacement Figures - 2023

On 14 June, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, along with the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, published the Global Displacement figures for 2023. It reported that over 108.4 million people are forcibly displaced globally. In Myanmar, at least 1,301,812 refugees fled from the country, and at least 1,498,000 are internally displaced persons, including 1,006,000 in 2022 alone.