Asia Justice Coalition

Asia Justice Coalition member the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) warmly welcomes the application for an arrest warrant for Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in relation to the genocidal military offensive against #Rohingya in #Rakhine State in 2017. " BROUK has been cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to provide evidence of the crimes committed by the Burmese military. “This is a day of celebration not just for Rohingya, but for everyone from Burma,” said Tun Khin, President of Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK. “This is not only about seeking justice and accountability, but also an acknowledgement of the crimes committed against us, which were ignored for so long. We must never forget that this was a preventable genocide, with ample warnings given, which the international community chose to let happen for the sake of a so-called reform process which was always a sham.” This is the second application this year for an arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing. In Argentina BROUK has brought a case of genocide before the court under the principle of universal jurisdiction, and the prosecutor there has also asked a judge for arrest warrants for Min Aung Hlaing and others involved in the Rohingya genocide. “This is a day of celebration not just for Rohingya, but for everyone from Burma,” said Tun Khin, President of Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK. “This is not only about seeking justice and accountability, but also an acknowledgement of the crimes committed against us, which were ignored for so long. We must never forget that this was a preventable genocide, with ample warnings given, which the international community chose to let happen for the sake of a so-called reform process which was always a sham.” The timing of the arrest warrant application should also serve as a warning to leaders of the Arakan Army, which has pushed the Burmese military out of large areas of Rakhine State, where most Rohingya remaining in Burma still live. “Twan Mrat Naing and other Arakan Army leaders must understand that they too could face the prospect of international arrest warrants if they continue to commit violations of international law against the Rohingya,” said Tun Khin. BROUK recognises that the prospect of a trial and jail cell for Min Aung Hlaing is still a long way off, with many challenges ahead. However, beginning a process of justice and accountability is essential for the long-term prospect of reducing and then ending violations of international law in Burma. If this process had begun in the early 1990s, when the UN first started documenting violations of international law in Burma, then the crimes Min Aung Hlaing is being charged with today may never have happened." https://lnkd.in/geNxhe27

The International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan has filed an application seeking issuance of an arrest warrant for Senior General and Acting President Min Aungh Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar military, for crimes against humanity of deportation and persecution of the #Rohingya committed in #Myanmar and in part in Bangladesh. Read the full statement here: https://lnkd.in/emTAfHdV #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

The UN Third Committee adopts a resolution by consensus on “Situation of human rights of #Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in #Myanmar”. "It demands an immediate end to hostilities, and all forms of violence and attacks against civilians — including Rohingya Muslims — in compliance with Security Council resolution 2669 (2022). By the text, the [General] Assembly would decide to hold a high-level conference in 2025 on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar. The representative of Myanmar said his delegation deeply regrets that “the draft resolution fails to include, among others, stronger language on the cessation of transfer of arms and jet fuel to the military junta”. Noting that such language was included in Human Rights Council resolution 55/20, he said, “lack of coherence within the UN system can be observed”. The situation on the ground is “far more dire than we could see and expect,” he stressed, referring to aerial bombings on civilian populations, the torching of villages, forced conscriptions, daily atrocities and transnational organized crimes, “fuelled by the military junta in the complete absence of the rule of law”. His delegation was also troubled that it was not consulted extensively during the negotiation process and now questions whether Member States are abandoning innocent civilians and supporting the vicious motives of the perpetrating military junta in Myanmar." Read the full text here: https://lnkd.in/ehNUCjsc

" Myanmar’s desperate military junta is ramping up attacks on villages that have fallen to opposition groups, carrying out beheadings, gang rapes and torture, with women, children and the elderly among the victims, the U.N. independent human rights investigator for Myanmar said in a new report. Thomas Andrews, a former U.S. congressman from Maine, said in the report to the U.N. General Assembly circulated Friday that the junta has responded to military defeats and the loss of territory by using sophisticated weapons against civilians and seeking to destroy towns that it cannot control. Calling Myanmar “an invisible crisis” because the world’s attention is focused elsewhere, he said, “Escalating atrocities against the people of Myanmar are being enabled by governments that allow, or actively support, the transfer of weapons, weapons materials, and jet fuel to junta forces.” He called on all countries to address Myanmar’s “devastating human rights and humanitarian crisis” by stopping the flow of weapons to the junta, stepping up humanitarian aid to millions in need, and supporting efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for human rights violations. Andrews called the military junta’s plan to hold an election in late 2025 “a farcical parody” and “thinly veiled attempt to create an impression of legitimacy and relieve international pressure.” He warned, “Not only is this fraudulent attempt outrageous, it is dangerous, as it could lead to even greater levels of instability and violence.” He ticked off grim statistics: Over 3.1 million people are displaced by conflict and the junta’s human rights violations, and 18.6 million people need humanitarian assistance, including 13.3 million facing emergency levels of food insecurity. He said the junta’s military forces have killed more than 5,800 civilians, destroyed over 100,000 homes and other civilian structures, and have kept more than 21,000 political prisoners languishing behind bars. Andrews, a human rights fellow at Yale Law School who was appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, said the situation was most “desperate and dangerous” in Rakhine state in western Myanmar." https://lnkd.in/gN3wX-id

Read Asia Justice Coalition member Global Justice Center's statement on the Crimes Against Humanity Convention resolution adopted by the UN Sixth Committee. " Today’s resolution calls for a concrete and time-bound process consisting of preparatory sessions in 2026 and 2027, and three-week negotiations in 2028 and 2029, where a treaty will be finalized. “Today’s resolution is a historic breakthrough toward a crimes against humanity treaty,” said Kelly Adams, legal advisor at the Global Justice Center. “Despite the proliferation of crimes against humanity around the world, negotiations on this treaty have been delayed time and again. But today’s decision paves the way for a treaty, which will offer crucial tools to prevent and punish these most extreme rights violations.” Negotiations for a new treaty present a unique opportunity to better advance justice for gender-based crimes, among other issues. In October 2023, a collection of human rights organizations and international law experts published a letter and several briefs that proposed changes to the draft treaty that focused on incorporating crimes like forced marriage, reproductive violence, and gender apartheid. A growing number of UN member states have expressed support for the inclusion of these crimes in a future treaty. “At present, treaty provisions have yet to catch up to the lived experiences of victims of sexual and gender-based crimes and judicial findings that acknowledge this fuller scope of harms,” said Adams. “A strong, progressive, and survivor-centric treaty will ensure international and domestic systems are better equipped to prevent, punish, and ensure redress for systematic or widespread attacks on civilians involving sexual and gender-based violence.” The General Assembly is expected to make a decision on the draft resolution in early December 2024." https://lnkd.in/eH3m6Exp

The Asia Justice Coalition welcomes the adoption of a resolution by the UNGA Sixth Committee establishing a formal and time-bound roadmap to convene a diplomatic conference on Crimes Against Humanity Convention. #CAHTreatyNow We commend the unified role of civil society organisations and academics in moving the Draft Articles outside of the Sixth Committee and call on States to ensure full participation of #CSOs at the PrepCom and diplomatic conference. Read our full statement ?? Amadou Jaiteh Global Justice Center Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect Amnesty International Human Rights Watch Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) Centre for Policy Alternatives Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) Fortify Rights International Commission of Jurists BHRN BROUK Coalition for the International Criminal Court Global Action Against Mass Atrocity Crimes (GAAMAC) The Hague Humanity Hub

On 22 November, the Asia Justice Coalition's Senior Legal and Policy Advisor, Jennifer Keene-McCann, delivered a presentation on 'Exploring Possibilities for Accountability in #Asia Beyond International Criminal Law' at the 10th Annual Australian International Criminal Law workshop.?

From 23-25 July, the Asia Justice Coalition secretariat hosted its fourth convening on #universaljurisdiction entitled 'Beyond Universal Criminal Jurisdiction: Opportunities for Atrocity Crime Accountability.' This closed-door workshop brought together a diverse group of #experts to focus on the opportunities for atrocity crime accountability in #Asia. The meeting note is available here ??: bit.ly/FourthUJ The discussion included a review of the existing mechanisms and case studies of universal jurisdiction in the spheres of international law, human rights law, corporate law, and constitutional law in Asia. We would like to thank Khusniddin Abdufattokhov and Mariam Hiba Malik who helped shape both the sessions and the Convening Note! To check the meeting notes on all FOUR universal jurisdiction meeting notes, click here: https://lnkd.in/gzzh_QzU International Commission of Jurists Human Rights Watch Amnesty International Global Justice Center Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University Centre for Policy Alternatives Fortify Rights BHRN BROUK Coalition for the International Criminal Court Global Action Against Mass Atrocity Crimes (GAAMAC) The Hague Humanity Hub

#HappeningToday: The UN General Assembly Sixth Committee will meet today and decide on the next steps on the International Law Commission's Draft Articles on Crimes Against Humanity. #CAHTreatyNow The Sixth Committee works on the tradition of consensus. The draft resolution now enjoys the support of over 97+ States, but it will be put to vote with the opposition from the Russian Federation. The draft resolution calls for a three-week diplomatic conference in 2027 and aims to conclude a legally binding treaty by 2028. In light of multiple protracted conflicts around the world and their disproportionate impact on civilians, including women and children, the Draft Articles lay strong emphasis on codifying prevention obligations. We reiterate our demand and call upon ALL States, especially Asian States, to support the call for formal treaty negotiations for crimes against humanity convention based on the Draft Articles. The proceedings will be telecasted live on UN Web TV here (10:00 - 13:00 ET): https://lnkd.in/gDPBNS8i The Asia Justice Coalition's letter to #Asian States is available here: bit.ly/AJCCAHLetter