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A/HRC/57/18 support of many United Nations actors, in line with the Human Rights Council resolution 52/31, in which the Council urged all United Nations bodies to collaborate fully with the Mechanism, where possible, and to share evidence that may be used in future prosecutions. V. Challenges and areas for additional support 63. As highlighted throughout the present report, the Mechanism faces a number of complex challenges, including: the lack of direct access to victims and witnesses in Myanmar and other States in the region; threats to the safety and security of personnel, witnesses and interlocutors; cybersecurity threats to communications and limitations in secure access to information; and the need for adequate capacity and resources to reinforce language and translation capabilities, technological innovations and specialized expertise. These challenges have been compounded by the liquidity crisis facing the United Nations during the reporting period. 64. The full cooperation of Member States in the Asia-Pacific region remains essential to ending the spiralling violence in Myanmar and ultimately pursuing justice for its people. For that reason, expanding cooperation with States in the region, where much of the evidence and many of the witnesses are located, continues to be a significant challenge and a high priority of the Mechanism. The Mechanism greatly values the continued strong support extended by some States for its investigative activities. It hopes that additional States that wish to end the horrendous violence that has engulfed Myanmar and to help the country towards a path to sustainable peace will cooperate with the Mechanism and send a strong and united message on the commitment of the international community to fight impunity for serious international crimes in Myanmar. 65. The Mechanism’s ability to address risks related to the safety of its witnesses, personnel and information assets also requires the cooperation of Member States where such persons are located or seek to relocate. The security situation of potential witnesses has become increasingly complex with the deteriorating security situation both in Myanmar as well as in some other locations hosting refugees. Many of the Mechanism’s witnesses and sources face serious risks both inside and outside Myanmar. Many have been forced to flee Myanmar and have crossed into neighbouring countries without any legalized immigration status, placing them in vulnerable situations, sometimes including the risk of arrest and deportation to Myanmar, where they may face persecution, detention and even execution. The developing security situation in the areas where the Mechanism’s witnesses are located also requires constant monitoring to assess the presence of threat actors and their capabilities. As the Mechanism’s investigations intensify, the need for increased capacity to monitor risks and threats affecting the safety and security of witnesses will also grow. The Mechanism is also expanding its engagement with civil society organizations, including through the civil society dialogue, which requires tailored risk and threat assessments for each civil society organization and the identification and implementation of corresponding mitigation measures, including through support from Member States. 66. As the Mechanism’s activities grow, its personnel also face increased risks as a result of continued attacks against organizations and individuals working for justice and accountability in Myanmar. These risks have been compounded by greater awareness that the Mechanism’s work may lead to criminal prosecutions against perpetrators of serious international crimes in Myanmar. 67. As Myanmar becomes increasingly more difficult to access, the possibility of digital surveillance and other potential threats to its information and communication systems has also grown. Many of the Mechanism’s information sources, particularly those inside Myanmar, have legitimate fears that they are under surveillance or that their communications might be intercepted. In order to maintain a high level of vigilance about the security of its information and communications technology, the Mechanism is continuously adapting to evolving technologies and strengthening its incident response system to prevent and respond to cyberattacks. 68. While the political and operational support of Member States is critical, the Mechanism also needs adequate resources in order to address the above challenges and to 16 GE.24-11995

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Evidence of an escalation in brutal atrocities committed by Myanmar military – Myanmar Mechanism Annual Report

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Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM)

Date Published: Aug 13, 2024

Abstract: Geneva, 13 August 2024 – There is substantial evidence that brutal war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Myanmar military have escalated at an alarming rate across the country, according to information collected and analysed by the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (Mechanism) and detailed in its Annual Report released today.

The Report focuses on the period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 – a time when armed conflicts increased across Myanmar as the challenges to military rule intensified.

During this time, the Mechanism collected significant evidence of more intensive and violent war crimes, such as aerial attacks on schools, religious buildings and hospitals where there was no apparent military target, and physical mutilations against people detained during the armed conflicts, including beheadings and public displays of disfigured and sexually mutilated bodies.

“We have collected substantial evidence showing horrific levels of brutality and inhumanity across Myanmar. Many crimes have been committed with an intent to punish and induce terror in the civilian population,” said Nicholas Koumjian, Head of the Mechanism.

The Mechanism is also investigating the unlawful imprisonment, including arbitrary detention and manifestly unfair trials, of perceived opponents of the military junta. Thousands of people have been arrested and many tortured or killed in detention. There is abundant evidence of systematic torture, including severe physical and mental abuse such as beatings, electric shocks, strangulations and sleep deprivation. There is also evidence of gang rape, the burning of sexual body parts and other violent sexual and gender-based crimes committed in detention. The victims include people of all genders and ages, including children.

“No one has been held accountable for any crimes, which emboldens perpetrators and deepens the culture of impunity in the country. We are trying to break this cycle. I believe the Mechanism has made considerable progress in building criminal cases against those most responsible for these crimes,” said Koumjian.

The findings in the Report are based on information and evidence collected from more than 900 sources, including more than 400 eyewitness testimonies, and additional evidence such as photographs, videos, audio material, documents, maps, geospatial imagery, social media posts and forensic evidence.

While the vast majority of information collected by the Mechanism concerns crimes committed by the Myanmar security forces, there is also credible evidence of crimes committed by armed groups which are fighting against the military. This includes summary executions of civilians suspected of being military informers or collaborators.

While the Mechanism is working hard to investigate the high volume of crimes committed since the military takeover in February 2021, it also maintains its commitment to the investigation of earlier crimes committed against the Rohingya during the Myanmar military’s 2016 and 2017 clearance operations. In particular, the Mechanism has analysed the movements of military units, the resettlement practices and policies intended to attract the migration of non-Rohingya people to Rakhine State, and the quantities and qualities of weapons possessed by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army at the time of the clearance operations.

The Mechanism has shared these analyses, along with a vast volume of evidence, with authorities working on ongoing cases concerning the Rohingya at the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice and in Argentina. The Mechanism is proactively sharing evidence that may be relevant to the proceedings and is also responding to targeted requests from these authorities for specific information and analysis.

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