OIC endorses legal action against Myanmar at ICJ

Gambia led the process that included a long series of negotiations

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has unanimously adopted a resolution to move the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to establish legal rights of the Rohingyas and addressing the question of accountability and justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press statement on Monday.  

The resolution, which the ministry termed “a major diplomatic breakthrough,” was adopted in Abu Dhabi in the final session of the 46th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, to pursue a legal recourse through the ICJ.

It came after a long series of negotiations seeking accountability for crimes committed against humanity and gross violation of human rights in the case of the Rohingyas in Myanmar, the press statement said.

Gambia led the process with a 10-member high-powered ministerial committee. The committee’s first meeting was co-chaired by Gambia in Banjul on February 10.

Gambia recommended taking legal steps in establishing legal rights on the principles of international law – specifically the Genocide Convention and other human rights and humanitarian law principles.

This unanimous measure sets a precedent for the OIC in pursuing the legal path to justice to address crimes against humanity, and establishing legal rights of the Rohingya population in their rightful homeland in Rakhine state, Myanmar.

The committee’s decision was endorsed in a fully fledged resolution and adopted in the final session of the meeting.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen led a high-powered delegation to the council and to the negotiations in the Special Committee in this regard.