Rohingya victims to confront Myanmar Military in genocide case
Accountability & Rule of Law - Myanmar - Rohingya Crisis - Legal Aid & Empowerment
News Release – 12 January 2026
Rohingya victims to confront Myanmar Military in genocide case
Geneva (LAW) — Today, for the first time in over a decade, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will begin hearings on a genocide case. More than eight years after the Myanmar military violently killed thousands of Rohingya and forced over 740,000 others to flee to Bangladesh, the court will hear oral arguments over two weeks, followed by a third week of rebuttals. The judgment should be issued within four to six months; however, it could take up to one year. Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) is supporting victims to travel to The Hague to testify in front of the world’s highest court in this case on the breach of the Genocide Convention, which was brought by The Gambia against the government of Myanmar in 2019.
“Rohingya have been persecuted in Myanmar for decades. We did not know that legal proceedings existed, and we could fight for our rights. But this time, we have the tools to defend ourselves and demand accountability and reparation for what happened to us. We won’t go back without justice.”
Salma* survived sexual violence and witnessed unspeakable horrors in 2017. She is traveling to The Hague with a delegation of other victims to make their voices and demands heard. In what is rare for interstate ICJ proceedings, witnesses of the genocidal “clearance operations” in Myanmar will testify in closed chambers.
“The European Union has consistently advocated for a lasting and durable solution to the plight of the Rohingya. Justice and accountability for the grave human rights violations suffered by them is an essential part of this. We recognise the courage and determination of the Rohingya survivors who are effectively engaging the world’s highest judicial institutions in pursuit of this goal, with the continued support of the European Union” said H.E. Michael Miller, Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh.
Over the past seven years, LAW has been working together with Rohingya survivors directly in the refugee camps in Bangladesh. This enabled the collection of testimonies regarding the atrocities committed, including sexual and gender-based violence and the deliberate targeting of children by the Myanmar military, proving genocidal intent. Supporting the victims to travel to the court was made possible through the financial support of the European Union and the Government of Canada.
“These testimonies are far more than legal evidence; they are a courageous stand against the attempt to erase an entire people,” explains Antonia Mulvey, LAW’s Executive Director. “Victims’ presence establishes an undeniable truth. I hope that their determination inspires other communities worldwide to pursue accountability and reparations for the atrocities they endure.”
In Myanmar, amid sham elections aiming at legitimizing its impunity, the junta continues to commit grave human rights violations and international crimes against its own population. In this deteriorating context, the ICJ must send a strong message. International laws are not mere concepts; they are binding, actionable tools that must be used to ensure human dignity is protected, particularly for the most vulnerable.
As civilians are increasingly affected by intensifying conflicts globally, the voices of the Rohingya will resonate even more strongly in the World’s court. Beyond recognition and reparation for the Myanmar victims, the ICJ must ensure that it paves the way for lasting accountability, upholding the laws that were designed to prevent innocent lives from being lost at the hands of a hateful minority.
About Legal Action Worldwide (LAW)
LAW is an independent global organization that provides innovative legal assistance to survivors of human rights violations and advocates for accountability in some of the world’s most challenging contexts.
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