Rohingya voices at ICJ: A step towards truth and justice

The willingness of Myanmar’s Rohingya survivors to come forward and testify before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) reflects their remarkable courage in the face of some 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 of those who worked tirelessly to ensure their voices were 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 first-hand accounts of what they saw and experienced.
“The testimony of these survivors will enable the court to centre the proceedings on what matters most – the Rohingya men, women and children who came under attack by the Myanmar military,” the UN Human Rights Council said in a press statement on Friday.
Andrews added that the willingness of these survivors to come forward is a reflection of their extraordinary courage, allowing the light of truth to shine through the darkness of the most horrific crimes. Their presence in the Court also demonstrates the tenacity of those who worked tirelessly to enable their safe, dignified and meaningful participation in these historic hearings.