The 51st Session of the Human Rights Council 

12 September 2022 – 7 October 2022

Item 2: Interactive dialogue on the report of Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar

12 September 2022

Statement with the International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

Delivered by Ardya Syafhana / GICJ

Thank you, President

This month will mark three years since the establishment of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) and the five-year commemoration of the clearance operations against the Rohingya people.

Nevertheless, retributive justice in Myanmar is still far from attainment. When the IIMM persisted in facilitating criminal proceedings against Myanmar authorities, only Bangladesh, Gambia and Argentina agreed to hold such judicial processes. On the other hand, the Myanmar domestic court focused more on prosecuting only the political opponents and denied IIMM access in its territory. Given the situation, investigations into Myanmar rely upon the assistance of other states and related individuals outside Myanmar.

EAFORD and Geneva International Centre for Justice calls for all UN member states to assist the accountability process of the international courts, IIMM as well as taking initiatives toward the universal jurisdiction. In addition to technical and humanitarian assistance, we also urge the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution on jurisdiction of international criminal court under Article 13(b) of the 1998 Rome Statute, to cover all Myanmar territory for probable war crimes and crimes against humanity. 

Thank you.