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Global Justice Center Blog
Burma's Ongoing Political Transition and Key Prospects for International Justice for the Rohingya.
Description:
On this online event, international justice experts from around the world will share an update of the ongoing international justice processes against Burma at the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and in Argentinian courts through a Universal Jurisdiction case, and give insight on how the international community could work to hold the newly elected Burmese government more accountable in uplifting the rights and security of Rohingya people during the country’s ongoing political transition.
Participants will include:
- Akila Radhakrishnan (Moderator), President of the Global Justice Centre.
- Tun Khin, President of Burmese Rohingya Organisation – UK (London, UK).
- M. Arsalan Suleman, Foley Hoag, legal counsel to The Gambia in its case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice.
- Erin Rosenberg, Senior Advisor to The Ferencz International Justice Initia-tive, Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
- Tomas Quintana, Argentinian lawyer and lead counsel in the current Uni-versal Jurisdiction case brought in Argentina, UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in North Korea and former UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Myanmar.
Myanmar ignoring Rohingya genocide trial measures: activists
Excerpt of AFP article that quotes GJC Legal Director Grant Shubin.
Rights groups have condemned the almost absolute exclusion of Rohingya from voting in November's election and their continued vilification as illegal interlopers.
"Myanmar has done nothing to address the root causes of discrimination and impunity that give rise to the ongoing risk of genocide against the Rohingya," said Global Justice Center legal director Grant Shubin.
The Rohingya crisis has left the international reputation of Myanmar and Suu Kyi in tatters.
The UN General Assembly last week voted overwhelmingly for a draft resolution expressing "grave concern" over serious rights violations against the Rohingya, a decision Myanmar blasted as "intrusive" and "illegitimate".
Myanmar Files Second Report to World Court on Compliance with Order to Protect Rohingya
NEW YORK — The government of Myanmar today filed its second report to the International Court of Justice on compliance with the court’s order to protect Rohingya from genocide. The report will not be made public at this time.
The court issued its “provisional measures” order in January. It required Myanmar to prevent genocidal acts, ensure military and police forces do not commit genocidal acts, preserve all evidence of genocidal acts, and report on compliance with these provisional measures. Reports to the court are due every six months after the first report in May.
Grant Shubin, legal director of the Global Justice Center, issued the following statement:
“We welcome Myanmar’s second report, but merely meeting the court’s technical deadlines is not enough. Since the provisional measures order was issued, Myanmar has done nothing to address the root causes of discrimination and impunity that give rise to the ongoing risk of genocide against the Rohingya.
“In fact, the government has ramped up discrimination with this month’s election that disenfranchised Rohingya voters and blocked Rohingya candidates from running for office. Meaningful compliance with the order requires comprehensive legal reform to dismantle systemic discrimination against the Rohingya and to strip the military of its supremacy and autonomy.”
Execution of Lisa Montgomery Delayed—the Only Woman on Death Row
Excerpt of Ms. Magazine op-ed by GJC Special Counsel Michelle Onello .
A federal judge on Thursday stayed the execution of Lisa Montgomery, potentially thwarting the government’s plans, announced in October, to put her to death in December.
Lisa Montgomery, a victim of severe child and sexual abuse with a history of mental instability, is the only woman on federal death row. The accelerated timeline of Montgomery’s case, and the Justice Department’s determination to proceed despite an election loss and her lawyers’ incapacity due to COVID-19, is an example of the dangerous consequences of its misplaced priorities.
As part of its renewed commitment to federal executions and a broader campaign to bolster its “law and order” credentials, the Justice Department, without notice to her attorneys and in the midst of a pandemic, announced in October that Montgomery’s execution would take place Dec. 8. Defense attorneys, taken by surprise at the expedited process, scrambled to respond and contracted COVID-19 after visiting Montgomery.