A/HRC/60/18 representatives from different ethnic groups, which resulted in increased trust and cooperation between the organizations that attended. 51. Furthermore, the Mechanism engaged in multiple opportunities for meaningful twoway communications with relevant organizations through 33 virtual and in-person events and meetings. During his official visit to Bangladesh in January 2025, the Head of the Mechanism engaged with more than 100 Rohingya activists and representatives of community organizations from refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. In these briefings, he updated stakeholders on the Mechanism’s investigative progress and on recent developments in accountability processes and addressed key questions regarding accountability for ongoing crimes in Rakhine State, along with concerns about prospects for justice. The Mechanism also held in-person briefings with Myanmar diaspora communities in North America and numerous meetings with different audiences focused on specific thematic issues, such as sexual and gender-based crimes. 52. The Mechanism expanded its efforts to engage a broader audience by developing and distributing materials with visually engaging, memorable and shareable messaging. During the reporting period, it redesigned its website to feature more accessible content in both English and Burmese, along with an improved user experience. Through its triannual newsletter, the Mechanism strives to maintain transparency and keep stakeholders informed, by providing substantive content and detailed updates on its progress. It has also produced and disseminated videos, fact sheets, infographics and other outreach materials in Burmese, Rohingya and other languages used in Myanmar. These resources offer clear explanations of various aspects of the Mechanism’s work and of recent developments in judicial processes. In the next reporting period, additional outreach materials will be created in more languages of Myanmar, with a particular emphasis on the Mechanism’s approach to investigating crimes against and affecting children as well as on sexual and gender-based crimes. 53. The Mechanism continued to reach out to diverse audiences through press releases, statements, media briefings and interviews, resulting in consistent media and social media coverage of its work in various languages of Myanmar and through global and regional outlets. Despite increasing efforts by the Myanmar military to restrict Internet and social media access, the Mechanism’s Facebook audience continued to grow steadily throughout the reporting period. The number of followers, located primarily in the Asia region, surpassed 75,500. This growth was largely driven by the Mechanism’s timely responses to events in Myanmar and to key developments at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court and in Argentina. Looking ahead, the Mechanism plans to further expand its social media presence by launching a LinkedIn page in the next reporting period to engage a wider audience. IV. Progress on other areas of the Mechanism A. Witness protection and support 54. The Mechanism places high priority on ensuring the security and well-being of witnesses and those who provide information, and seeks to facilitate access to psychological support for those who will benefit from such services. Despite significantly reduced resources during the reporting period, the Mechanism has remained steadfast in its witness protection and support efforts. It continues to enhance its procedures and working methods, aligning them with international best practices to ensure the effective safeguarding of witnesses. 55. Investigating serious international crimes presents considerable security, safety and psychosocial risks for witnesses, victims and other sources of information. These risks are particularly pronounced for individuals who have been detained and/or tortured, for survivors of systemic violence, including sexual and gender-based violence and mass killings, and for insider witnesses. The security situation of potential witnesses has become increasingly complex with the deteriorating security situation in Myanmar as well as in 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 GE.25-10777 13