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A/HRC/57/18 of its evidence repository. During the reporting period, the Mechanism continued to develop its core and specialized technology and infrastructure to enable the collection, preservation and analysis of information and evidence in an accessible, searchable and secure manner. 42. In this regard, the Mechanism deploys automation to enable more efficient internal workflow processes. Automation has enabled the Mechanism to produce sharing packs more efficiently, in line with the rapid pace of requests for information and evidence by competent authorities. To ensure the integrity of the evidence shared and the security of information, each page carries a number unique to the document being shared with the specific authority. Enhanced automation in information technologies has also resulted in efficiencies in other areas, including the processing of collected materials, which has been reduced from days to hours, including the extraction and preservation of data from a variety of social media, communication and messaging applications. 43. In preparation for the development of a machine translation capability from the Myanmar language (Burmese) into English, the Mechanism has devised a tool to standardize the character sets used in the digital materials across the evidence and information management system. In addition, the Mechanism has enhanced its optical character recognition capabilities by deploying an advanced optical character recognition platform to extract text from evidentiary items that normally have no extractable text. These tools will contribute to an eventual improvement of machine translations. 44. Simultaneously, the Mechanism has continued the development of computer vision technology in order to analyse the photos and videos that it has collected. The technology will enable the Mechanism to deduplicate, group, retrieve and analyse the large volume of photographs and videos it has collected, including the capability to detect scenes and objects (such as villages or weapons) and cluster similar images to facilitate easier analysis. Once it has been fully developed, the technology will enable the Mechanism to carry out more advanced analytics and sharing of information. 45. The Mechanism’s policies and procedures on information systems and information management have also been informed by lessons learned and best practices identified through an internal evaluation carried out in 2023. In line with the findings of the evaluation, the Mechanism has taken steps to update its information and technology governance and policy framework to better fit its requirements and operations in the wake of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Recognizing the ever-changing technical environment and uses of technology, an enhanced framework will better respond to improving and evolving technology systems, better align with the needs of the Mechanism relating to cybersecurity and safety and improve compliance by Mechanism personnel. The enhanced framework includes a strengthened information governance programme for all non-evidentiary materials and an improved system of labelling and managing physical evidence and regular informational campaigns to keep all personnel informed of technical innovations and their potential effects on the work of the Mechanism. C. Dialogue with relevant stakeholders and public outreach 46. The Mechanism engages in extensive outreach and dialogue with a multitude of relevant stakeholders through its public outreach. Its efforts aim to increase understanding of the Mechanism’s complex mandate and to build trust among those with a stake in its work. The Mechanism uses a range of communication channels and tools to help stakeholders better understand what it can and cannot do, explain its working methods and increase support and cooperation for its investigations. During the reporting period, the Mechanism focused on optimizing the impact of its website, Facebook page, media engagements, outreach materials and public and closed-door events and briefings. 47. Two-way communication is vital for the Mechanism to ensure understanding of its work and to respond to feedback from its stakeholders. In this regard, the Mechanism held its second in-person civil society dialogue with representatives from 18 civil society organizations from diverse communities working on issues related to accountability and justice in Myanmar. Civil society organizations provide the Mechanism with valuable information, documentation, access to witnesses and leads for its investigations. It is one of 12 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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Evidence of an escalation in brutal atrocities committed by Myanmar military – Myanmar Mechanism Annual Report

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