The United Nations Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) released its annual report today (August 8, 2023). The annual report covers the time period of 2022 to June 2023. The report highlights the work that the IIMM has accomplished and some of the challenges it continues to face due to the lack of access into the country. Further the report makes recommendations on how the IIMM could continue to function well.
The job of the IIMM is to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence of the
most serious international crimes and violations of international law committed in Myanmar
since 2011, and to prepare files in order to facilitate and expedite fair and independent
criminal proceedings, in accordance with international law standards, in national, regional or
international courts or tribunals. The IIMM is also mandated to engage in close and timely
cooperation on future investigations by, among others, the International Criminal Court and
the International Court of Justice.
With regard to the Rohingya matters, some of the items the IIMM has reported includes but is not limited to:
- Conducted dozens of investigative meetings, screenings and detailed interviews during the reporting period, particularly with members of the Rohingya community.
- Established relationships with psychologists and psychosocial experts who are available to be present for interviews when victims are asked to recall and recount their traumatic experiences.
- Commenced a dedicated line of inquiry focusing on the experiences of the hijra (transgender) Rohingya community.
Nicholas Koumjian, Head of the IIMM stated “Every loss of life in Myanmar is tragic, but the devastation caused to whole communities through aerial bombardments and village burnings is particularly shocking. Our evidence points to a dramatic increase in war crimes and crimes against humanity in the country, with widespread and systematic attacks against civilians, and we are building case files that can be used by courts to hold individual perpetrators responsible.”
