Genocide: Canada, Netherlands urge State Parties to support Gambia in ICJ
The Netherlands and Canada have said States parties to the Genocide Convention must resolve to avoid genocide but also, critically, to carry perpetrators in Myanmar to account.
"Canada and the Kingdom of holland reiterate their call to all states parties to the Genocide Convention to aid The Gambia in its efforts to handle these violations," both countries said in a joint statement.
François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, and Stef Blok, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of holland, issued the statement on Wednesday regarding intention to intervene in The Gambia v. Myanmar case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“Canada and the Kingdom of the Netherlands would like to express their joint intention to intervene when it concerns The Gambia v. Myanmar, a contentious case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice [ICJ] alleging violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide [Genocide Convention]," they said.
The Gambia’s application shows the discrimination and persecution of the Rohingya in Myanmar, which created the conditions for Myanmar’s security forces to perpetrate targeted and systemic atrocities against the Rohingya, Saudi the Foreign Ministers.
"It states that Myanmar’s violations are the commission of genocide against the Rohingya, mostly by method of the systematic and widespread perpetration of mass murder, sexual violence, torture, forced displacement, and denial of usage of food and shelter. These conditions have caused over 850,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh since 2016."
They said the Genocide Convention embodies the solemn pledge to avoid the crime of genocide and hold those responsible to account.
"In bringing this application to the ICJ, The Gambia took a laudable step towards ending impunity for those committing atrocities in Myanmar and upholding this pledge. Canada and the Netherlands consider it our obligation to aid these efforts which are of concern to all or any of humanity."
Within this intervention, Canada and the Kingdom of holland will help with the complex legal issues that are anticipated to arise and will pay special focus on crimes linked to sexual and gender-based violence, including rape.
