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A/HRC/57/18 and other activities, such as the Mechanism’s civil society dialogues, despite a challenging security landscape. 58. In addition, the Mechanism works hard to maintain high standards of cybersecurity in order to protect its communications with sources and witnesses and the information and data with which it is entrusted. Technological advances by threat actors that could compromise the security of digital communications in Myanmar threaten the Mechanism’s ability to protect its information assets as well as access sources and information securely. The Mechanism is continuously reviewing and refining its cybersecurity measures and practices across its operations, focusing equally on mitigation as well as response preparedness measures. The Mechanism continued to enhance its cybersecurity on devices and services being deployed, allowing for better and more secure connectivity and access to systems, both in Geneva and during missions. The Mechanism also plans responses in order to safely manage the effects of third-party cybersecurity incidents. The Mechanism’s specialists regularly conduct dedicated training and awareness programmes for personnel on information security and cyberthreats. IV. Cooperation with Member States and other partners 59. The Mechanism continued to reach out to and seek information from the Myanmar authorities, in accordance with relevant resolutions in which the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly called upon Myanmar to cooperate and engage meaningfully with the Mechanism. To date, the Mechanism has made numerous requests to the Myanmar authorities for information in its possession and for access to its territory. The Myanmar military has continued to ignore such requests. Most recently, the Mechanism issued a public statement on its latest request for information concerning the capture and burning alive of two young men in Magway Region, in the hope that publicizing the request about such a heinous crime might lead to a response. 60. The Mechanism requires the cooperation of numerous entities, including States, international organizations, civil society organizations, business entities and victims, in order to collect information and evidence on the most serious international crimes committed in Myanmar. Many States require the negotiation of formal arrangements regulating the parameters of their cooperation, for example, in order for the Mechanism to conduct witness interviews in their territory. Some international organizations, civil society organizations and corporate providers also require formal cooperation arrangements before sharing information with the Mechanism. The conclusion of formal cooperation arrangements is consequently critical to the effective implementation of the Mechanism’s mandate. To date, the Mechanism’s proactive engagement with States and other stakeholders have contributed to the negotiation and conclusion of 36 cooperation arrangements, in the forms of treaties, memorandums of understanding, exchanges of letters or other instruments. Fourteen such cooperation arrangements have been concluded with Member States, covering States in Asia, Europe, Oceania and North America. These arrangements have allowed the Mechanism to carry out several dozen witness interviews and the collection of millions of evidentiary items in various countries. 61. In an effort to strengthen cooperation by all relevant stakeholders, during the reporting period, the Mechanism continued its high-level dialogues and consultations with Member States and other actors in Geneva, New York and numerous capitals. These engagements enabled the Mechanism to promote its work and to advance important cooperation arrangements to carry out evidence collection and witness interviews in the territories of Member States. In parallel, the Mechanism continued to actively engage and develop both informal and formal arrangements with a large network of civil society organizations, both in and outside the Asia-Pacific region, to build trust and to foster cooperation. 62. During the reporting period, the Mechanism also continued to rely on the support and cooperation of United Nations entities that might have information relevant to the Mechanism’s mandate or that could provide support in other areas of its operations. Fully cognizant of the challenging operational environment that the United Nations system is currently facing in Myanmar, the Mechanism highly values the continued cooperation and GE.24-11995 15

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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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