The Hague: Rohingya survivors of the 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar are expressing cautious hope that the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations’ highest judicial authority, will formally recognize the atrocities against their community as genocide. The upcoming judgment could mark a historic moment in international law and accountability for mass human rights violations.
The case was initiated in 2019 by Gambia, a predominantly Muslim West African nation, which alleged that Myanmar violated the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. The proceedings focus on the brutal campaign carried out by Myanmar’s armed forces in Rakhine State, which forced more than 730,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to neighboring Bangladesh. Survivors recount widespread killings, systematic sexual violence, and the destruction of entire villages, painting a harrowing picture of deliberate persecution.
During hearings in The Hague, Rohingya refugees and advocates recounted personal tragedies, calling for the court to hold Myanmar accountable. Yousuf Ali, a 52-year-old survivor, described the torture, arson, and forced displacement he endured. “The world has witnessed our suffering for so many years,” he said. “We lost our homes, our families, and our dignity. We are hoping justice will finally be served.”
Lawyers representing Gambia argued that the evidence overwhelmingly shows that Myanmar intended to destroy the Rohingya as a distinct group a core requirement for a finding of genocide under international law. Myanmar, on the other hand, maintains that the 2017 operations were legitimate counter-terrorism measures, denying any genocidal intent. Despite these defenses, a UN fact-finding mission previously concluded that Myanmar’s actions met the threshold of genocide, strengthening calls for judicial recognition.
For Rohingya refugees living in sprawling camps in Bangladesh, the ICJ ruling carries significance far beyond legal terminology. Survivors see it as a chance for international acknowledgment of decades of persecution, statelessness, and human suffering. Advocates emphasize that a verdict could set the stage for reparations, accountability, and potentially the safe, voluntary return of Rohingya to Myanmar though UN investigators caution that such returns are impossible without an end to widespread violence and firm guarantees of protection.
Judges at the ICJ may take several months to render a decision, which could have far-reaching implications for international human rights law. Observers note that a ruling confirming genocide would not only affect Myanmar but could influence how other cases of alleged genocide are adjudicated worldwide. Meanwhile, Rohingya communities in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, continue to watch developments closely, hoping that justice at The Hague will finally affirm their long-suppressed voices.