UN Court Opens Landmark Genocide Trial, Spotlight on Rohingya Justice
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague has officially opened a landmark trial to determine whether Myanmar committed genocide against its Rohingya Muslim minority. The case, initiated by Gambia in 2019 under the 1948 Genocide Convention, is the first full genocide trial at the ICJ in more than a decade. Over the coming weeks, judges
will review legal arguments, expert testimony, and sensitive accounts from Rohingya survivors, which will be presented in closed sessions to ensure privacy and safety. Legal experts say the trial could set a crucial precedent in defining and prosecuting genocide under international law. The case relates to the 2017 military crackdown in Rakhine State, which forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh amid reports of mass killings, village destruction, and sexual violence. Myanmar’s government continues to deny genocide allegations, framing its operations as counter-terrorism measures. Source: United Nations Office at Geneva; Reuters reporting on ICJ hearings and Rohingya genocide allegations. ( ungeneva.org )