The UN Human Rights Council must support furter the work of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, urged today the ICJ.
The statement reads as follows:
“Mr. President,
The ICJ commends the progress of the IIMM despite being denied access to the territory of Myanmar by the military regime.
The overall human rights situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate and those responsible for the most serious crimes under international law continue to enjoy absolute impunity, underscoring the critical importance of the work of the IIMM.
Five years have passed since the Myanmar military’s clearance operations resulted in thousands of unlawful killings and pushed hundreds of thousands of Rohingya into Bangladesh. The work of the IIMM is critical to ensure justice may be achieved in the future for these and other violations.
However, the IIMM must receive international support to serve its principal function in terms of financing and to ensure the means to try the serious crimes of which it has evidence. The IIMM must be facilitated in their efforts to work with refugee communities from Myanmar around the world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.
The ICJ calls on all States to further support the work of the IIMM including by cooperating with it fully, ensuring sufficient funding, facilitating its secure access to victims and witnesses, and working to secure a jurisdictional venue to try crimes under international law.
I thank you.”
Contact:
Massimo Frigo, ICJ UN Representative, e: massimo.frigo(a)icj.org, t: +41797499949