Case Against Myanmar at ICJ: OIC to sit in April to mobilise resources

A meeting of senior OIC officials has agreed to convene a pledging conference during the upcoming Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting to mobilise resources for the ICJ case against Myanmar on accountability for human rights violations against the Rohingyas. 

The agreement was reached yesterday during the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) preparatory to the upcoming 47th CFM meeting to be held in Niger on April 3-4, said a foreign ministry press release.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen led the Bangladesh delegation at the OIC Senior Officials Meeting held at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah on February 9-11.

The SOM welcomed the historic unanimous decision on January 23, 2020 of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering provisional measures to prevent further acts of genocide against the Rohingyas in Myanmar, which sets a historical precedence in legal efforts in upholding the rights of persecuted minorities anywhere in the world.

The OIC delegates also agreed to Bangladesh proposals for continued support to The Gambia in the case at ICJ until a final verdict is issued, follow up on the ICJ's notification of its order of provisional measures to the UN Security Council pursuant to Article 41(2) of the Statute of ICJ and to contribute in the resources mobilisation efforts to ensure safe, dignified and sustained return and resettlement of the Rohingyas to their homeland in the Rakhine State of Myanmar.

Besides, the OIC General Secretariat has set up a dedicated account to facilitate the resource mobilisation efforts.

The 45th OIC CFM held in Dhaka established an OIC Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee on Accountability for Human Rights Violations Against the Rohingyas, with The Gambia as chair, with a view to mobilising and coordinate international political support, particularly through the 57-member OIC process.

Following a submission by the Gambia, on behalf of the OIC, the ICJ held its first hearing on December 10-12 in 2019 in the case against Myanmar for its gross violation of human rights against the Rohingyas.

On the sidelines of the SOM, Foreign Secretary Momen held a meeting with the members of the Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee on Accountability for Human Rights Violations Against the Rohingya.

The Bangladesh foreign secretary appreciated the Gambian delegation for their dedication to the Rohingya cause in lodging the case with the ICJ.