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A/HRC/57/18 deliver on its mandate as effectively as possible. Inadequate resources affect other critical areas of the Mechanism’s operations. For example, the Mechanism requires resources to ensure effective translation and interpretation capabilities, especially considering the volume of collected material in the Myanmar language (Burmese). The Mechanism will need to further increase its language capacity in the upcoming reporting period. This can partly be achieved through additional resources, including the recruitment and additional training of interpreters and translators, and partly through the continuing development of machine translation technology and solutions. The translation of digital texts from the languages spoken in Myanmar, in particular the Myanmar language (Burmese), into English using artificial intelligence technology remains a challenge as the technology is not yet as advanced for those languages as it is for others; development in this field will require significant additional financial resources. Furthermore, addressing the complexities related to Myanmar language (Burmese) character sets and fonts will require collaboration with specialist language scientists in order to develop this capability further. 69. The liquidity crisis facing the United Nations has not spared the Mechanism, placing significant restrictions on both staff and non-staff resources, affecting recruitment, essential consultancies, investigative mission travel, training and the acquisition of information technology equipment and software. The Mechanism has been obliged to leave a number of regular budget positions vacant, including in critical areas such as witness protection. Some investigative travel has also been curtailed to manage costs. The Mechanism prioritizes interviewing witnesses in person to ensure that interviews are accurate, free of any potential allegations of outside influence and are conducted to high standards that preserve the integrity of witness testimony. Travel cuts have therefore greatly impacted the gathering of crucial evidence from certain witnesses. 70. In light of these resource challenges, the Mechanism continues to actively seek voluntary contributions from Member States for discrete projects and highly specialized expertise. The complex work of the Mechanism requires specialized personnel and technologies that were not envisioned in the early stages of its establishment, including opensource research and analysis, financial investigations and innovative technologies. The Mechanism will continue to mobilize extrabudgetary funding to sustain its activities in the future and welcomes the support of diverse Member States and partners. VI. Conclusion 71. The Mechanism acknowledges with gratitude the support extended to its investigative efforts by many Member States, United Nations entities, civil society organizations, private and public information providers and other partners. Their support remains crucial for the Mechanism to effectively carry out its mandate. The Mechanism is particularly grateful for the cooperation received from witnesses and survivor groups, which reflects the courage and dedication of the people of Myanmar to the fight against impunity. 72. While the number of serious international crimes committed in Myanmar is mounting, so is the evidence against the perpetrators. The Mechanism’s team of analysts, investigators and lawyers are working hard and working smart to find, collect and analyse relevant evidence. The Mechanism will continue to combine well-tested investigative techniques with new and evolving technologies to piece together evidence to prove the commission of serious international crimes and the role played by those who bear personal responsibility. 73. Going forward, the Mechanism will continue to: prioritize investigations of the gravest crimes where the impact on victims is most severe, including sexual and genderbased crimes and crimes against children; seek cooperation from critical Member States to carry out investigative missions, including in new locations where relevant witnesses are located; explore innovative methodologies that will enable it to systematically analyse significant volumes of evidentiary material, with a focus on linking specific perpetrators to the crimes; and prepare and share evidentiary and analytical products that will have a high value to national and international GE.24-11995 17

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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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