Rohingya victims confront Myanmar Military in genocide case

From 12 to 29 January 2026, for the first time in over a decade, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) held hearings on a genocide case. More than eight years after the Myanmar military violently killed thousands of Rohingya and forced over 740,000 others to flee to Bangladesh, the court heard oral arguments over two weeks, followed by a third week of rebuttals. The Court's decision will be delivered at a public sitting, the date of which will be announced in due course.

As part of a project funded by European Commission's Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), the non-governmental organization (NGO) Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) supported victims to travel to The Hague to testify in front of the world's highest court in this case on the breach of the the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which was brought by The Gambia against the government of Myanmar in 2019.

"Rohingya have been persecuted in Myanmar for decades. We did not know that legal proceedings existed, and we could fight for our rights. But this time, we have the tools to defend ourselves and demand accountability and reparation for what happened to us. We won't go back without justice.", said Salma (name has been changed to protect the individual's privacy), who survived sexual violence and witnessed unspeakable horrors in 2017. She traveled to The Hague with a delegation of other victims to make their voices and demands heard. In what is rare for interstate ICJ proceedings, witnesses of the genocidal "clearance operations" in Myanmar testified in closed chambers.

"The Rohingya have traveled from the depths of displacement to the world's highest court to claim their rights. It is an inspiring demand for justice the world can no longer ignore", said H.E. Michael Miller, Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh. "What this community has endured is a stain on our collective humanity. The European Union is steadfast: accountability is not optional. There can be no path forward without justice, and no lasting peace without full reparations for the atrocities committed against them."

Over the past seven years, LAW has been working together with Rohingya survivors directly in the refugee camps in Bangladesh. This enabled the collection of testimonies regarding the atrocities committed, including sexual and gender-based violence and the deliberate targeting of children by the Myanmar military, proving genocidal intent. Supporting the victims to travel to the court was made possible through the financial support of the European Union through FPI and the Government of Canada.

"These testimonies are far more than legal evidence; they are a courageous stand against the attempt to erase an entire people," explains Antonia Mulvey, LAW's Executive Director. "Victims' presence establishes an undeniable truth. I hope that their determination inspires other communities worldwide to pursue accountability and reparations for the atrocities they endure."

In Myanmar, amid elections aimed at legitimizing its impunity, the junta continues to commit grave human rights violations and international crimes against its own population. In this deteriorating context, international laws are not mere concepts; they are binding, actionable tools that must be used to ensure human dignity is protected, particularly for the most vulnerable.

As civilians are increasingly affected by intensifying conflicts globally, the voices of the Rohingya will resonate even more strongly.

On 30 January, at the conclusion of the ICJ hearings, the Rohingya survivors were joined in solidarity by survivors and civil society from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq (Yazidi), Palestine*, and Sudan. As part of FPI funded project, LAW collaborated with REDRESS, a partner NGO to organise a Survivors' Dialogue at the Europe House in the Hague, hosted by the European Union Representation in The Hague. The event also saw participation from NGOs, academia and leading media outlets.

* This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue.