Press
release
The
Republic of The Gambia welcomes today’s unanimous decision by the International
Court of Justice in The Hague to order provisional measures to prevent further
acts of genocide from occurring in Myanmar.
The
Court’s unanimous order approves provisional measures requested by The Gambia
and recognizes the reality that the Rohingya who remain in Myanmar are at risk
of ongoing genocidal acts, and that they need the urgent protection of the
Court during the pendency of the case against Myanmar.
Specifically,
the Court unanimously ordered Myanmar, and all entities under its control, to
take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts of
genocide against the Rohingya, including killings, causing serious bodily or
mental harm, inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about their
physical destruction, and measures to prevent births. The Court also ordered
Myanmar to ensure the preservation of all evidence related to the allegations
of the crime of genocide. Further, the Court ordered Myanmar to report to the
Court after 4 months, and then every 6 months thereafter, on its compliance
with the Order. The Court rejected wholesale Myanmar’s request for the Court to
dismiss The Gambia’s case against Myanmar and strike it from the Court’s
docket.
These
provisional measures are binding under international law, and The Gambia fully
expects Myanmar to comply with them.
The
Gambia also welcomes the Court’s notification of its Order of provisional
measures to the United Nations Security Council, pursuant to Article 41(2) of
the Court’s Statute. The Gambia calls upon the UN Security Council to fulfill
its role in ensuring compliance with the Court’s Order.
While
these measures offer some interim protection for the Rohingya, The Gambia looks
forward to pursuing its case against Myanmar to a final Judgment of the Court
on the merits and on damages.
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