AJC HOLDS A SIDE EVENT ON THE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY CONVENTION

 

On 18 March, the Asia Justice Coalition, REDRESS, FIDH, Center for Justice and International Law and International Commission of Jurists co-organised a side event entitled “Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity: Advancing Towards a New Convention” at the 55^th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The event convened experts to discuss the opportunities that a new convention offers in advancing the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity.

 

DR PRIYA PILLAI SELECTED AS A 2024 YALE WORLD FELLOW

 

Secretariat head Dr Priya Pillai has been selected as a 2024 Yale World Fellow for the Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows program. The program is run by the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs and aims to enable extraordinary individuals to increase their capacity to make the world a better place.

 

AJC SECRETARIAT ON REPRESENTATION OF (ASIAN) WOMEN ON THE INTERNATIONAL BENCH

 

Ahead of the International Women’s Day and the International Day of Women Judges, the Asia Justice Coalition secretariat mapped the gender and regional representation at four international(ised) courts & tribunals: International Court of Justice (ICJ), International Criminal Court (ICC), United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), and the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). None of these institutions have had 50% gender representation through time. Collectively, a total of 231 judges were elected to these courts over time. Only 45 of them were women – 19%. Of those 45, only 5 were Asian women.

JOINT STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF PROGRESS TOWARDS A CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY TREATY

 

On 27 March, the Asia Justice Coalition and its members Global Justice Center, Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurists, and Legal Action Worldwide along with 300+ civil society ogranisations and experts signed a joint statement to express their support for a global convention on crimes against humanity. They urged States to use the second resumed session of the UN General Assembly Sixth Committee (April 1 – 5 and 11) to push towards a procedure moving the Draft Articles on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity forward to negotiations for a treaty at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.

 

AJC SECRETARIAT BRIEFS MEMBERS OF THE ICR2P ON CAH

 

On 20 March, Secretariat head Dr Priya Pillai and Aakash Chandran (Legal Advocacy and Communications Manager) briefed members of the International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect (ICR2P) on the Draft Articles on Crimes Against Humanity and the process at the UN General Assembly Sixth Committee.

BHRN; “BURMESE JUNTA ABDUCTED 125 KAMAN MUSLIM FROM KYAUK TA LONE IDP CAMP FOR FORCED CONSCRIPTION”

 

On 1 March, Burma Human Rights Network reported on the abduction and forced conscription of 125 Kaman Muslims from Kyauk Ta Lone IDP camp. According to BHRN, the soldiers coerced internally displaced persons between 18 and 55 to join the military by threatening their families. Executive Director Kyaw Win was quoted, “The Burmese Army’s mandatory conscription has resulted in an exodus of young people from the country and pushed others to join rebel groups. In their continuing desperation, they are kidnapping the most vulnerable in the country and forcing them into service against international law and norms.”

 

AI: “ESTABLISHMENT AND EXERCISE OF CRIMINAL JURISDICTION IN A FUTURE CONVENTION ON CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY”

 

On 12 March, AJC member Amnesty International published a briefing paper ahead of the UN General Assembly’s Sixth Committee’s second resumed session on the Draft Crimes against Humanity articles, scheduled for early April. AI submitted that there is no hierarchy between jurisdictional bases in national prosecutions of crimes against humanity, arguing that States have the primary duty to investigate and prosecute such offences if a suspected perpetrator is in their custody.

 

GLOBAL JUSTICE CENTRE: DRAFT CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY CIVIL SOCIETY WORKSHOP

 

On 13 March, the Global Justice Centre co-hosted a civil society workshop on the draft crimes against humanity articles at the 68^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York. The workshop convened various experts in international law to provide members of civil society with an overview of the draft articles and the movement towards a global convention.

 

FORTIFY RIGHTS: “JOINT LETTER: 109 ORGANIZATIONS CALL FOR EXTENSION AND REDESIGNATION OF TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR BURMA”

 

On 15 March, Fortify Rights and 108 other organizations released an open letter urging the Biden administration to extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status for Myanmar.

“BROUK CONDEMNS JUNTA’S AIRSTRIKES TARGETING VULNERABLE ROHINGYA CIVILIANS IN BURMA’S RAKHINE STATE, CALLS FOR URGENT UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING”

 

On 21 March, coalition member Burmese Rohingya Organization UK issued a media release condemning the military junta’s airstrikes targeting Rohingya civilians in Rakhine state. BROUK called on the UK government to urgently convene a UN Security Council meeting. Tun Khin (BROUK President) stated, “Burma’s military regime continues to commit atrocity crimes with total impunity, this time war crimes against innocent Rohingya civilians including many children. We urgently need coordinated international action to effectively sanction the sale of aviation fuel to the military and stop these airstrikes on civilians. This is just one step the UN Security Council could take.”

 

AI: “BANGLADESH ORAL STATEMENT AT UNHRC55”

 

On 25 March, Amnesty International made a statement following the Universal Periodic Review of Bangladesh at the 55^th session of the UN Human Rights Council. AI welcomed the government’s promise to investigate and prosecute human rights violations by its security forces and uphold the principle of non-refoulement for Rohingya refugees. 

 

FORTIFY RIGHTS: FORECASTING ACCOUNTABILITY IN MYANMAR

 

Asia Justice Coalition member Fortify Rights, in its new podcast series "Forecasting accountability in Myanmar", discusses the situation in Myanmar three years after the military-led coup and what the international community should do to ensure accountability.

UNSR TOM ANDREWS PRESENTS REPORT ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR

 

Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur presented his latest report to the UN Human Rights Council during its 55^th session. According to him, “the human rights situation in Myanmar has morphed into a never-ending nightmare ”. He identified opportunities for the international community to support the people, including coordinated action on financial sanctions, steps to ensure accountability for perpetrators, and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those with the greatest needs.

 

ICC ELECTS NEW PRESIDENCY

 

On 11 March, the judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) elected Judge Tomoko Akane (Japan) as President of the Court. Judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala (Italy) was elected First Vice-President and Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou (Benin) Second Vice-President. They are all elected for three-year terms.

 

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ISSUES A STATEMENT ON MYANMAR

 

On 18 March, the Secretary-General delivered his statement on the situation in Myanmar. He remains deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Myanmar and reiterated his call for the protection of civilians, the cessation of hostilities, and humanitarian access. He is further concerned by reports of forcible detention and recruitment of youths, including Rohingya, and the potential impact of forced conscription on human rights and on the social fabric of communities in Myanmar.

OHCHR: “DRAFT GENERAL RECOMMENDATION NO 40. ON THE EQUAL AND INCLUSIVE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN DECISION-MAKING SYSTEMS”

 

The CEDAW Committee, within its mandate, is elaborating a new General Recommendation (GR 40) to provide guidance to States parties on reaching equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems – in both the public and private sectors. The Committee aims to adopt GR 40 at its 89^th session in October 2024 and calls for comments on the draft general recommendation No. 40 until 18 April 2024.

 

ICC OTP LAUNCHES PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON POLICY ON SLAVERY CRIMES

 

On 19 March, the International Criminal Court’s Office of the Prosecutor announced a call for public submissions for the new policy on slavery crimes. Patricia Viseur Sellers, Special Adviser to the Prosecutor on Slavery Crimes, is assisting the Prosecutor and the OTP in this policy effort. Comments can be sent until 30 April 2024.

 

“VICTIMS’ AND SURVIVORS’ RIGHTS IN A CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY”

 

Ahead of the second resumed Session of the UNGA Sixth Committee, REDRESS, TRIAL International, FIDH - International Federation for Human Rights, and Global Survivors Fund released a briefing paper and call upon States to support a victim and survivor-centric treaty on crimes against humanity.