American Jewish World Service (AJWS) says ruling is an important step toward justice for the Rohingya people
Tracey Gurd, Senior Director of Civil and Political Rights and Advocacy for American Jewish World Service (AJWS), the leading global Jewish human rights organization, issued the following statement as the International Court of Justice ordered provisional measures on The Gambia’s case against Myanmar (also called Burma) in response to allegations of genocide against the Rohingya people.
The Court ordered Myanmar to prevent genocidal violence against the Rohingya community and to preserve evidence of past attacks.
“Today’s decision puts the disgraced Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and her government on notice that the international community is watching, especially as Myanmar gears up for its 2020 national elections. Rohingya people cannot be the targets of genocidal acts by the military.
“This is the first time an international court has ordered a stop to the heinous acts by the Burmese military. This ruling gives hope to the Rohingya people for justice.
“Let’s not forget: This is also a victory for other ethnic minority groups in Myanmar who have suffered at the hands of their country’s military for decades. Any effort to hold the military accountable for their actions against Rohingya is a win for all.
“As the leading global Jewish human rights organization, we recognize the importance of this moment as an important first step toward justice and accountability for the Rohingya community.”
About American Jewish World Service’s work in Burma
For more than 17 years, AJWS has supported the human rights of ethnic minorities in Burma, including the Rohingya people. AJWS provides direct financial support to more than 30 human rights organizations in Burma that have been working to advance the rights of minority ethnic groups and create a truly pluralistic and democratic society. Please read more about our work in Burma here.
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