UN Expert Praises Rohingya Survivors for Testifying at ICJ Genocide Case
- Arakan Now
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Arakan Now | 30 Jan 2026
A United Nations human rights expert has praised Rohingya survivors for their courage in testifying before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the genocide case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar.
Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, issued a statement as oral arguments concluded at the ICJ in The Hague, saying the survivors’ participation reflects their remarkable courage in the face of horrific crimes.
He said the most important moment of the proceedings came when survivors of the attacks against the Rohingya community presented their first-person accounts of what they saw and experienced.
“The willingness of these survivors to come forward is a reflection of their remarkable courage, allowing the light of truth to shine through the darkness of the most horrific of crimes,” Andrews said. He also praised those who worked tirelessly to ensure their safe, dignified and meaningful participation in the hearings.
Andrews said the testimonies helped center the Court’s proceedings on what matters most — the Rohingya men, women and children who came under attack by the Myanmar military.
He noted that during the hearings, Myanmar’s representatives did not use the name “Rohingya,” instead referring to them as “Bangali,” a term he described as deeply offensive.
“Of all the words uttered in these historic hearings, it was the word that was not said that spoke volumes,” he said.
The UN expert warned that Myanmar military attacks against civilian targets have continued alongside systemic discrimination and disenfranchisement of the Rohingya and other communities, even as the ICJ case moves forward.
He stressed that the ICJ proceedings are an important step in the wider pursuit of truth, justice and accountability for the Rohingya people and emphasized the need to protect those who have come forward.
“No one should face intimidation, harassment or reprisals for telling the truth and cooperating with the Court,” Andrews said.
He called on the international community to listen to survivors and support their call for justice, equality and dignity — and to call the Rohingya by their name.
