GENEVA (30 January 2026) – The willingness of
Myanmar’s Rohingya survivors to come forward and testify
before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is a
reflection of their remarkable courage in the face of the
most horrific crimes, a UN expert said, as oral arguments
concluded in the landmark genocide case brought by the
Gambia. The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews hailed the tenacity of
Rohingya survivors and those who worked tirelessly to make
their voices heard in The Hague. He issued the following
statement:
“Oral arguments in the historic
genocide case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar at the
ICJ have concluded and the Court will now begin its
deliberations. While representatives of The Gambia and
Myanmar had the opportunity to present the legal case for
their side of this terrible story, the most important moment
came when survivors of the horrific attacks against the
Myanmar Rohingya community presented their first-person
accounts of what they saw and experienced.
The
testimony of these survivors will enable the Court to center
the proceedings on what matters most – the Rohingya men,
women and children who came under attack by the Myanmar
military. The willingness of these survivors to come forward
is a reflection of their remarkable courage, allowing the
light of truth to shine through the darkness of the most
horrific of crimes. The fact that they were present in the
Court is a reflection of the tenacity of those who worked
tirelessly to enable their safe, dignified and meaningful
participation in these historic hearings.
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They all
deserve our profound respect and gratitude. They remind us
that justice is not abstract: it is built on the courage of
individuals who are willing to speak truth to
power.
What struck me most about the Court proceedings
was not what was said, but what was not said. The Rohingya
self-identify as Rohingya. It is their fundamental right to
do so. Yet at no point during the proceedings did the
representatives of Myanmar say their name, Rohingya. They
instead chose the pejorative “Bangali”, a word that is
deeply offensive to every Rohingya I have ever
known.
Of all the words uttered in these historic
hearings, it was the word that was not said that spoke
volumes.
These hearings follow years of suffering that
my mandate, and that of others, have sought to document. As
proceedings in The Hague moved forward, Myanmar military
attacks against civilian targets increased along with
systemic discrimination and disenfranchisement of the
Rohingya and others in Myanmar.
The ICJ proceedings
are an important step in the wider pursuit of truth, justice
and accountability for the Rohingya people. Ensuring the
protection and wellbeing of those who have come forward
remains essential; no one should face intimidation,
harassment or reprisals for telling the truth and
cooperating with the Court.
We can pay tribute to
survivors who have come forward to tell their story by
listening and supporting their call for justice, equality
and dignity.
And, to call the Rohingya by their
name.”
Thomas Andrews is the
Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in
Myanmar
