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Video Series: International Justice and Accountability Mechanisms for the Rohingya 

Accountability & Rule of Law - Rohingya Crisis - Advocacy

Video Series: International Justice and Accountability Mechanisms for the Rohingya 

 

Watch the videos in English here: Youtube Playlist

Watch this animated video series to understand the ongoing international justice and accountability mechanisms concerning the Rohingya! These videos provide simplified information on the ongoing cases before different international courts and how the Rohingya can participate in these processes. These justice mechanisms play a pivotal role in ending impunity in Myanmar, fostering accountability, and supporting the Rohingya’s right to return to their homeland safely and with dignity. By understanding these mechanisms, the Rohingya can be empowered to actively engage in the pursuit of justice and contribute to a future where such atrocities are prevented. 

The videos also share examples of other communities who have faced similar atrocities and their journeys to justice.   

The video series has been developed with funding support from the European Union.

About the Videos

Video 1: Crimes committed against the Rohingya and international justice 

In the first video in the series, viewers are introduced to the concept of ‘international justice’ and what international justice can look like for the Rohingya. The video also defines three different types of serious international crimes – genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, and the serious international crimes suffered by the Rohingya community. 

Watch (English): Video 1

(Rohingya version available on LAW YouTube channel below and Burmese language version upcoming)  

Video 2: Introduction to ICC & ICJ  

The second video in the series explains how the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was created and the focus of disputes before it. It also explains the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its jurisdiction and legal process. The video pointedly highlights the differences between the two courts, the difference in victim participation and who can be held responsible by these two courts.  

Watch (English): Video 2

(Rohingya version available on LAW YouTube channel and Burmese language version upcoming) 

Video 3: Victim participation before the ICC 

The third video focuses on the ICC case, which is currently in the investigations phase and, therefore, in the process of identifying ‘witnesses’. Potential witnesses are approached by the Office of the Prosecutor directly for interviews; however, other victims can contribute as ‘participants’ in different ways. The video introduces the Victim Participation and Reparations Section (VPRS) of the ICC and the importance of victim participation in the proceedings. It explains that victims also have the opportunity to make ‘victim submissions’ to the court. 

Watch (English): Video 3

(Rohingya version available on LAW YouTube channel and Burmese language version upcoming) 

Video 4: Summary of the ongoing international cases for the Rohingya.  

The fourth video in the series presents a summary of the relevant international justice actors and cases pertaining to the Rohingya, including the The Gambia v. Myanmar case before the ICJ, the ICC investigation, the principle of universal jurisdiction and the landmark proceedings in Argentina, and lastly the UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) (not a court) and how survivors can support the mechanism.  

Watch (English): Video 4

(Rohingya version available on LAW YouTube channel and Burmese language version upcoming) 

Video 5: How did others seek justice: efforts of other communities that experienced horrific violence elsewhere in achieving justice.  

The fifth and final video in the series provides examples of other communities who were subjected to severe international crimes and their journey in seeking justice for those atrocities. The examples include: the ethnic cleansing of the Bosnian Muslims in former Yugoslavia and the cases that went before the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia and ICJ; ongoing atrocities in Darfur and the currently pending proceedings at the ICC; and the events following ethnic cleansing in Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge and the work of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.  

Watch (English): Video 5

(Rohingya version available on LAW YouTube channel and Burmese language version upcoming) 

Watch the videos on Rohingya language here: Rohingya language playlist