UN's top court to hold Myanmar genocide hearings in January

"The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will hold public hearings in a landmark case next month accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against its Rohingya community, the top United Nations court said. The proceedings are expected to set precedents that could affect South Africa's case against Israel over the war in Gaza, as this will be the first genocide case the ICJ has heard on its merits in more than a decade."

"Filed by The Gambia to the UN's top court in 2019, the case accuses authorities in Myanmar of violating the UN genocide convention during a brutal crackdown by the country's army and Buddhist militias on the Rohingya in 2017. More than 742,000 Rohingya fled the bloodshed, while witnesses reported murders, rape and entire villages burned to the ground. As a result, the ICJ, which rules on disputes between countries, ordered Myanmar in 2020 to take all measures within its power to prevent a genocide."

The International Court of Justice will conduct public hearings in January on allegations that Myanmar committed genocide against the Rohingya. The Gambia will present its arguments from January 12–15, backed by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, accusing Myanmar of violating the UN genocide convention during the 2017 crackdown. Myanmar will present its case from January 16–20. The ICJ allocated three closed days for witness and expert examination. More than 742,000 Rohingya fled in 2017 amid reports of murders, rape and villages burned to the ground. The ICJ ordered Myanmar in 2020 to take all measures to prevent genocide.

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