BROUK President Tun Khin was featured in a two-part podcast series by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), examining international efforts to hold the Burmese military accountable for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed against the Rohingya and other ethnic and religious communities in Burma.
In the first episode, outgoing UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma Tom Andrews and Arsalan Suleman, who was part of The Gambia’s legal team in the genocide case against Burma at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), spoke about ongoing international accountability efforts and pathways to justice for victims of atrocities committed by the Burmese military.
The second episode focused on the use of universal jurisdiction to pursue accountability for crimes committed by the Burmese military. Tun Khin joined Salai Za Uk Ling of the Chin Human Rights Organization to discuss the importance of international justice efforts and the role survivors and civil society organisations play in seeking accountability.
During the discussion, Tun Khin stressed that accountability for the Burmese military is essential to ending decades of impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed against the Rohingya and other ethnic communities in Burma. He highlighted the growing importance of international accountability mechanisms including universal jurisdiction and international court proceedings in delivering justice for victims and survivors.
Tun Khin has repeatedly called for coordinated international action to hold the Burmese military accountable for genocide against the Rohingya. Despite overwhelming evidence of atrocities, including mass killings, rape and the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya, senior military leaders still face no justice. International accountability mechanisms are essential to end impunity and help prevent further atrocities in Burma.
BROUK is grateful to USCIRF for continuing to highlight the situation in Burma and the importance of accountability for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by the Burmese military. The international community must now move beyond statements and ensure international legal mechanisms, including arrest warrants and universal jurisdiction cases, are fully enforced to help end impunity for the Rohingya genocide.
Listen to the podcast episodes here:
- International Accountability for Burma’s Atrocities Against Religious Minorities
https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/uscirf-spotlight/international-accountability-burmas-atrocities-against-religious - Universal Jurisdiction as a Tool for Accountability in Burma
https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/uscirf-spotlight/universal-jurisdiction-tool-accountability-burma