A/HRC/57/18
those in “underdocumented” regions. In all of its witness interactions, the Mechanism has
prioritized the collection of information concerning sexual and gender-based crimes and
crimes against and affecting children, since such crimes are so often underreported and
underdocumented in criminal investigations.
12.
The Mechanism has mapped out and engaged with Rohingya diaspora communities
in several countries. In certain locations, and in coordination with national authorities, the
Mechanism has carried out investigative missions to those States to conduct detailed witness
interviews. The Mechanism considers that engaging with members of the Rohingya
community in a range of different countries where they have taken refuge or have relocated
ensures the inclusion of a broader range of members of the affected community in its
investigations and increases the pool of witnesses in stable security situations who may be
available to testify in judicial proceedings.
13.
Aside from engaging with survivors from the Rohingya community, the Mechanism
continues to pursue evidentiary information from individuals who may possess “inside
knowledge” relevant to the perpetration of crimes against the Rohingya by the Myanmar
security forces, including the chain of command within the Myanmar security forces or other
armed groups. The Mechanism also continues to engage with a wide range of witnesses who
may provide contextual, overview or other information pertaining to crimes against the
Rohingya. Such witnesses range from medical professionals and other first responders who
provided immediate care to the Rohingya survivors and victims as they fled Myanmar to
diplomatic representatives and officials of international organizations who engaged with the
Myanmar military and civilian authorities around the time of the 2016 and 2017 clearance
operations.
Analysis and sharing
14.
In accordance with its mandate, the Mechanism dedicates considerable resources to
the analysis of evidence to fulfil the mandate to facilitate and expedite criminal accountability
processes in national or international courts. The Mechanism’s evidence repository includes
a vast amount of material in the Myanmar language (Burmese). Guided by the priority lines
of inquiry discussed above, as well as by the needs and requirements of ongoing
investigations and proceedings related to those crimes, the Mechanism has produced in-depth
analytical products on salient aspects of the investigation during the reporting period. While
most of its work remains confidential, in order to preserve the integrity of the investigations
and to safeguard the security of witnesses and sources, the Mechanism exceptionally released
two such reports to the public in March 2024. The first report concerns the failure of the
Myanmar authorities to address widespread allegations of sexual and gender-based violence
against the Rohingya population; the second report demonstrates how the Myanmar military
used a covert network of Facebook accounts to propagate hate speech against the Rohingya
prior to and during the 2017 clearance operations.
15.
In addition, the Mechanism has produced and shared with judicial authorities a
number of confidential analytical reports focusing on various matters of high contextual and
evidentiary value to the ongoing investigations and proceedings about crimes against the
Rohingya. This includes analyses of evidence harvested by its team of specialists and opensource and financial investigators and analysts. Such analyses cover issues such as: the
history of official laws and pronouncements issued by the Myanmar authorities and the effect
of such laws and pronouncements on the fundamental rights of the Rohingya population; the
movements of military units during the clearance operations, as garnered from social media
posts of the Myanmar authorities; resettlement practices and policies intended to attract the
migration of non-Rohingya people to Rakhine State; and the quantities and qualities of
weapons in the possession of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army at the time of the clearance
operations. The Mechanism continues to develop additional analytical reports on other
thematic priorities, including on the loss and expropriation of Rohingya property prior to,
during and after the clearance operations and on individuals and/or corporate structures
potentially involved in the provision of material assistance to the Myanmar security forces
during the clearance operations. Beyond the analysis already conducted with respect to
Facebook, the Mechanism continues to examine the role that hate speech has played
throughout the time period of its investigations, including through other forms of social
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