A/HRC/60/18
I. Introduction
1.
The present report covers the activities carried out by the Independent Investigative
Mechanism for Myanmar between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025.
2.
The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 39/2, created the Mechanism and
mandated it to carry out two primary functions: to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse
evidence of the most serious international crimes and violations of international law
committed in Myanmar since 2011; and to prepare files to facilitate and expedite fair and
independent criminal proceedings in national, regional or international courts or tribunals
that have or may in the future have jurisdiction over these crimes. In its resolution 73/264,
the General Assembly welcomed the establishment of the Mechanism. Subsequently, in its
resolution 43/26, the Council specifically called upon the Mechanism to engage in close and
timely cooperation on any future investigations, including those conducted by the
International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.
3.
Over the past year, civilians continued to suffer atrocities, as the conflict between the
armed forces of Myanmar and various armed organizations showed no signs of abating. The
Mechanism collected evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed with
increasing frequency and intensity by multiple parties to the ongoing conflicts. In all cases,
the Mechanism is working to identify those most responsible, regardless of their political
affiliation, beliefs or ethnicity.
4.
During the reporting period, the systematic and escalating use of air strikes by the
Myanmar military across the country caused widespread death, destruction and displacement,
and has terrorized communities. As the military continues to lose territory to opposing
groups, it frequently bombs lost territories from the air, causing increased casualties among
non-combatants. Women, children and elderly people have been particularly vulnerable to
the devastating impact of air strikes. Within days of the deadly earthquake of 28 March 2025,
at a time of heightened humanitarian crisis, the Myanmar military unleashed air strikes
against civilian villages in Mandalay, Sagaing and other regions.
5.
In Rakhine State, ongoing fighting between the military and the Arakan Army has
affected thousands of civilians. There are credible reports of widespread malnutrition,
particularly among young children of all ethnicities. During the reporting period, the Arakan
Army seized control of nearly all townships in Rakhine, leaving only the capital Sittwe and
parts of the southern region under military control. The Mechanism is actively investigating
reports of killings, torture, rape and the burning of villages. While all ethnic communities in
Rakhine State have endured extreme hardship, the remaining Rohingya population finds
itself in an especially vulnerable position, caught between the Myanmar military and the
Arakan Army.
6.
In parallel to its increased investigative activities, the Mechanism has shared vast
amounts of evidence and analysis to support three ongoing justice processes related to crimes
committed against the Rohingya population, which are being conducted by the International
Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court and Federal Prosecutor’s Office No. 9 in
Argentina. In November 2024, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced
that he had requested an arrest warrant for Senior General Min Aung Hlaing,
Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar military, for the crimes against humanity of
deportation and persecution of Rohingya. The Prosecutor stated that he intended to file
requests for additional arrest warrants. In February 2025, the Federal Criminal Court of
Argentina ordered the issuance of arrest warrants summoning Min Aung Hlaing and 24 other
individuals to appear before the Court to provide testimony relevant to the ongoing
investigation by Argentinian authorities. These recent developments send a strong message
to perpetrators that no one stands above the law.
II. Progress on investigations and facilitating proceedings
7.
Over the past year, the Mechanism continued to actively monitor the ongoing situation
throughout Myanmar and to collect and analyse evidence of alleged serious international
crimes committed by the armed forces of Myanmar as well as various armed groups. Since
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