LAW and Fortify Rights hold ASP20 side event on international justice for Myanmar

On 7 December 2021, LAW and Fortify Rights facilitated a panel discussion as a side event to the 20^thAssembly of State Parties of the International Criminal Court. The discussion was chaired by Chris Gunness (Director, Myanmar Accountability Project) and included opening remarks from Hasina Begum (Rohingya representative from the camps in Cox’s Bazar) and Professor Payam Akhavan (International Court of Justice Counsel to The Gambia, Specialist Advisor on Genocide to the International Criminal Court Prosecutor). The panel comprised: Wai Wai Nu (Founder and Executive Director of Women Peace Network), Chris Sidoti (Member of the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar. Former member of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar), Matt Smith (Chief Executive Officer, Fortify Rights), and Antonia Mulvey (Executive Director, Legal Action Worldwide).

The discussion covered multiple important issues, including the urgent need the National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar to lodge instruments of accession to the Rome Statute with the UN Secretary General, and the importance of the solidarity between the peoples of Myanmar, including the Rohingya. Panellists called upon the International Criminal Court (ICC) to urgently demonstrate its effectiveness and relevance as a justice mechanism, by acknowledging and responding to Article 12(3) Rome Statute declaration made by the NUG of Myanmar in July 2021, recognising the ICC’s jurisdiction. They expressed frustration that, five months on, the NUG was yet to receive a response.

A two page summary of the event and ‘to-do’ list will be circulated shortly. A recording of the event, can be viewed on Fortify Rights’ Facebook page here