GENEVA - 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.
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 well being 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."
