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AJC STATEMENT MARKING 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROME STATUTE
On 17 July, Asia Justice Coalition released a statement to mark the 25th anniversary of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). In the statement, AJC evaluated progress made so far, and expectations from the next phase of the ICC. The Coalition reiterated that while each situation before the Court is unique, challenging, and calls for tailored responses and approaches, it is imperative to have a consistent discharge of the mandate for the reasons of independence, equality, predictability, and legitimacy.
ICJ: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION OF INDEPENDENT JUDGES, PROSECUTORS & LAWYERS IN MYANMAR
On 6 July, the International Commission of Jurists called on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and UN Member States to monitor and address attacks on the independence of the judiciary and to protect lawyers, human rights defenders and civic space in Myanmar. ICJ urged the High Commissioner to work to document and shed light on widespread and systemic violations in the administration of justice, which constitute a significant part of the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis.
BHRN CONDEMNS JUNTA KILLINGS OF STUDENTS DURING INTERROGATION
On 10 July, Burma Human Rights Network condemned the brutal killings of students from the Bago Region by the military junta and called upon the international community to take immediate action and provide assistance to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
HRW: SPIRALING VIOLENCE AGAINST ROHINGYA REFUGEES IN BANGLADESH
On 13 July, Human Rights Watch called on the Bangladeshi authorities to assist Rohingya refugees by establishing accessible systems to report crimes and promptly investigate complaints. HRW reported that the authorities are failing to adequately protect Rohingya refugees from surging violence by armed groups and criminal gangs, with layers of barriers to police, legal, and medical assistance.
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AJC MEMBERS ON INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE DAY
On 17 July, AJC members marked the 25th anniversary of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Read Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Burma Human Rights Network, and Legal Action Worldwide’s statement on International Justice Day.
LAW: GUIDE ON INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MECHANISMS FOR HUMANITARIAN ACTORS WORKING WITH THE ROHINGYA
On 16 July, Legal Action Worldwide released a ‘Guide on International Justice Mechanisms for Humanitarian Actors working with the Rohingya’. The Guide, available in English and Bangla, provides information on the Rohingya crisis and the legal avenues available to Rohingya victims and survivors who want to bring the perpetrators in Myanmar to justice for international crimes committed against their people.
HRW: MYANMAR REFUGEE ACTIVIST ABDUCTED
On 17 July, Human Rights Watch called on the Malaysian government to immediately prioritize a thorough and transparent investigation into the abduction of the Myanmar refugee activist Thuzar Maung and her family. HRW reported that based on reports from witnesses and CCTV footage, on July 4, unidentified men abducted Thuzar Maung, and her family from their residence in Kuala Lumpur. Thuzar Maung is an outspoken supporter of Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement.
GCR2P: ‘ATROCITY PREVENTION AND THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL’S 53RD SESSION’
On 21 July, the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect published a summary of major outcomes and relevant dialogues from the 53rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) that was held in Geneva between 19 June and 14 July 2023. The update on the situation in Myanmar is available here.
BROUK: TUN KHIN ON IMPUNITY OF MYANMAR MILITARY
On 19 July, Asia Justice Coalition member Tun Khin (President, Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK) spoke to Sky News about the entrenched impunity of the Myanmar military junta.
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FORTIFY RIGHTS: END CRACKDOWN & INDEFINITE DETENTION OF ROHINGYA REFUGEES IN INDIA
On 28 July, Fortify Rights called on the Government of India to immediately and unconditionally release indefinitely detained Rohingya refugees and end the arbitrary arrest and detention of refugees. Fortify Rights documented evidence of Indian authorities beating Rohingya refugees, denying them due process rights, and indefinitely detaining hundreds, in some cases for several years.
GJC: PANEL DISCUSSION ON CONFLICT-RELATED SEXUAL VIOLENCE
On 13 July, Asia Justice Coalition member Akila Radhakrishnan (President, Global Justice Center) participated in a panel discussion about existing State obligations to prevent, stop and respond to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence. The event witnessed the launch of the 'Legal Guidebook on State Obligations for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV)'.
GCR2P: ‘A FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION FOR THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT: A RESOURCE FOR STATES’
On 12 July, Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect launched a new report entitled 'Framework for Action for R2P'. It is a guide for States on steps to take to protect populations from atrocity crimes, at home and abroad. The full recording of the launch event is available here.
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ICJ: PODCAST ON LJUBLJANA – THE HAGUE TREATY
On 6 July, Asia Justice Coalition member Raquel Saavedra (International Legal Advisor, International Commission of Jurists) spoke with Asymmetrical Haircuts podcast about the new Ljubljana-The Hague Treaty (aka Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty).
FORTIFY RIGHTS ON THE SITUATION OF ROHINGYA & IN MYANMAR
On 21 July, Asia Justice Coalition member Matthew Smith (CEO, Fortify Rights) discussed the issues facing Rohingya refugees, including surging violence by non-state actors in Bangladesh’s camps and the ongoing exodus of Rohingya, on Beyond the Indus podcast. Previously, on 20 July, Patrick Phongsathorn (Senior Advocacy Specialist) spoke to Sky News about the ground situation in Myanmar and the growing impunity of the Myanmar military. The full reportage on Myanmar is available here.
AJC SECRETARIAT ACTIVITIES
Asia Justice Coalition secretariat head Dr Priya Pillai participated in ICC Roundtables on Children’s Policy. Dr Pillai also took part in the #NGOVoices campaign organised by AJC’s partner Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) and shared her expectations from the Court going forward. Dr Pillai and Pavani Bhat (Investigations Associate, Fortify Rights) were quoted in a blogpost on universal jurisdiction.
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ICC PROSECUTOR KHAN VISITS BANGLADESH
From 4 – 7 July, Prosecutor Karim A. A. Khan KC visited Bangladesh for the second time. He visited Kutupalong refugee camps and interacted with Rohingya women groups, youth groups, and members of victims' families. He announced the appointment of Mr Essa Faal as a senior lawyer at the Office of the Prosecutor and the deployment of resources from the Trust Fund to increase investigative capacity with respect to sexual and gender-based crimes and crimes against children.
ASEAN: JOINT COMMUNIQUE OF THE 56TH ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING
On 13 July, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations held its 56th Annual Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Jakarta (11 - 12 July) and issued a joint communique on Myanmar.
UNSG ANNUAL REPORT ON CHILDREN & ARMED CONFLICT
The UN Secretary-General released his Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict documenting the impact of hostilities on children. The report revealed the grim reality faced by these children who were recruited or used, killed, or maimed, raped or victims of sexual violence, or abducted. Check the full report, including an update on the situation in Myanmar, here.
‘MYANMAR IN “DEADLY FREEFALL” INTO EVEN DEEPER VIOLENCE, SAYS TÜRK’
On 6 July, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk held an interactive dialogue on the situation in Myanmar at the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council after the release of a new report by the OHCHR. According to the report, Myanmar’s overall humanitarian and human rights situation has deteriorated to alarming levels, exacerbated by the military’s strategy to prevent life-saving humanitarian aid from reaching those who desperately need it.
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UNSR TOM ANDREWS ORAL REPORT & PRESS CONFERENCE ON MYANMAR
On 6 July, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews held a press conference after he presented the oral report on the situation in Myanmar to the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council. Watch the press conference here.
AP: ‘EU REJECTS MYANMAR’S DIPLOMATIC ROLE AND SAYS IT STILL DOESN’T RECOGNIZE GENERALS’
On 13 July, the Associated Press reported that Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, expressed opposition, in a meeting with foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to Myanmar’s upcoming role as the overseer of relations between the 27-nation bloc and Southeast Asian nations and reasserted its non-recognition of the strife-torn country’s military government. On 20 July, the EU also imposed fresh sanctions on Myanmar entities and officials.
UNSC OPEN DEBATE ON CRSV – SITUATION IN MYANMAR
On 14 July, the UK during its Presidency convened a Security Council annual open debate on “Promoting Implementation of Security Council Resolutions on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence”. Naw Hser Hser, a member of the advisory board for the Women’s League of Burma (WLB) briefed council members about the usage of sexual violence to attack civilian populations as a modus operandi by the Myanmar military.
‘MYANMAR NATIONAL IN US FOUND GUILTY OF PLOTTING TO ATTACK PRO-DEMOCRACY AMBASSADOR’
On 25 July, Myanmar Now reported that Phyo Hein Htut was convicted by a US Federal Court for conspiring to harm Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Kyaw Moe Tun, who opposed the military regime.
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