The International Court of Justice ruled genocide was committed against the Rohingya.
Dear John
On Friday 22nd July the International Court of Justice, known as the World Court, ruled that a case on whether or not genocide was committed against the Rohingya will now proceed.
But despite calls for the British government to join the case, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss refuses to do so.
When the Burmese military launched their military offensive against the Rohingya in 2017, their main target was children. Children were shot, raped, beaten to death, drowned and burned alive. More than half the 800,000 Rohingya who fled to neighbouring Bangladesh were children.
UN investigators concluded the Burmese military had committed genocide. But it was Gambia, not the British government, which brought the genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
Canada and Netherlands have said they’ll join Gambia in the case. Even Bangladesh, with high levels of poverty, donated $500 million towards Gambia’s legal costs.
But the British government has refused to join the case, even though Rohingya organisations are asking them to, there is cross party support for the UK to join, and the Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament called on the British government to join the case.
Despite all this, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss refuses to join the case.
This is the main international legal process which can start the process of holding the Burmese military accountable for their crimes, and help prevent future atrocities.
But Liz Truss won’t agree for the UK to join the case.
Please email Liz Truss now calling on her to ensure that the British government finally joins the Rohingya genocide case at the International Court of Justice, and turns words of support into practical action.
