48^th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council

Item 2: Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar 

Delivered by Ahmed Adam

On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)

13 September 2021

Madam President,

FORUM-ASIA welcomes the report of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, and concrete progress in the implementation of its mandate.

The mechanism is closely linked to Myanmar people’s hopes for justice and accountability for grave international crimes committed by the military including genocide against Rohingya and war crimes and crimes against humanity against ethnic communities. Their confidence in the mechanism is, therefore, paramount for its success. We urge the mechanism to continue to enhance its outreach especially to victims and survivors and their families as well as civil society.

As demonstrated by the recent influx of information, and in the absence of credible domestic or regional avenues, the mechanism remains the only viable option for any form of investigations into or accountability for serious violations that continue to be committed by the military since the attempted coup d’état on 1 February.

We call on the Council and UN member states to ensure the sustainability of the mechanism with adequate resources and capacity to enhance its substantive work as well as to meet the growing demand for its work.

Impunity of Myanmar military is at the root of the current human rights crisis. We call on the UN member states and the international community to ensure accountability in Myanmar by referring Myanmar to the International Criminal Court or an international tribunal and invoking principles of universal jurisdiction.

Finally, we ask the head of the mechanism to elaborate on how UN Member States, especially those from the region, can facilitate the mechanism’s access to victims, survivors, witnesses, and human rights defenders, and to ensure their protection?

And what are some practical steps the Council and the international community can take to support the work of the mechanism, in particular, in relation to the serious international crimes being committed since 1 February?

Thank you.

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For a PDF version of this statement, click here