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A/HRC/57/18 the Mechanism’s priorities to deepen its engagement with relevant civil society organizations in order to increase mutual understanding and to facilitate its understanding of the realities and challenges that these organizations face in the course of their work. 48. Over three days of frank and open discussions, Mechanism personnel shared information about its mandate and limitations, procedures and investigative priorities as well as how information shared by civil society organizations is used in its investigations. Civil society participants shared their challenges and frustrations and highlighted some of the difficulties they encounter in their work and how this impacts their engagement with the Mechanism. Many organizations shared concerns relating to security and psychosocial needs, Internet blackouts, funding issues and fatigue. They made valuable suggestions on how to improve their cooperation with the Mechanism, which is considering how to modify its working methods in response. Before the dialogue, 57 per cent of participants indicated that they had a good understanding of the Mechanism and its mandate. This increased to 100 per cent by the end of the event. The number of civil society representatives who indicated an interest in cooperating with the Mechanism almost doubled following their participation in the dialogue. 49. In addition to the dialogue, the Mechanism engaged with a range of stakeholders interested in justice for crimes committed in Myanmar. During the reporting period, this included participation in close to 40 public and closed-door events as well as virtual and inperson briefings, the majority of which included engagements with survivors, civil society groups and information providers. Since security is a serious concern for the Mechanism, a range of measures were put in place for virtual briefings to enable participants based in Myanmar and other locations to engage as safely as possible. 50. In addition to such direct engagement, the Mechanism has prioritized the development of outreach materials with simplified messaging that is accessible and memorable for a range of audiences. In this regard, the Mechanism produced visual outreach materials that explain how the Mechanism works, how to share confidential information with it, what happens to information once it is shared and how the Mechanism works with victims of sexual and gender-based crimes. These materials have been produced both in English and the Myanmar language (Burmese) and have been distributed through various communication channels and by global and regional partners. In the next reporting period, the materials will also be produced in several ethnic languages, including animated videos in the Rohingya language. 51. The Mechanism has also focused on improving the design and content on its website to make the information more accessible in English and the Myanmar language (Burmese). The updated website will be launched later in 2024. The Mechanism has also intensified its engagement through social media by producing visual and shareable content on Facebook and encouraging greater interactivity with its almost 75,000 followers through regular question and answer sessions. The public release of two analytical reports on hate speech and sexual and gender-based crimes further galvanized interactivity on these platforms. This was the first time that the Mechanism had released such reports on an exceptional basis in the interest of transparency and with the intention that they could be used widely for other justice and accountability efforts. 52. There has been continued media interest in the work of the Mechanism. Press releases, statements, media briefings and interviews have resulted in regular coverage in influential global, regional and national media outlets, including in the languages used in Myanmar. In the next reporting period, the Mechanism aims to target the media working in minority ethnic languages to reach more communities within Myanmar. The Mechanism also increased the publication of its bulletin from twice to three times a year to provide more regular updates on its activities to Member States, civil society organizations and other stakeholders. D. Witness protection and support 53. The protection and support of witnesses and information providers, both in Myanmar and outside its borders, continues to be a top priority for the Mechanism. The Mechanism has continued its efforts to adopt appropriate procedures and methods of work for the protection of witnesses, taking all feasible steps within its means to protect their safety and GE.24-11995 13

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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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