The Green Party of Canada welcomes the landmark ruling by the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) relating to the Rohingya.

OTTAWA  — In 2019, The Gambia submitted an application against Myanmar to the ICJ, alleging violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and seeking provisional measures to protect the 600,000 Rohingya that remain in Myanmar. In a unanimous decision, the ICJ concluded that "there is a real and imminent risk" to the right of the Rohingya to be protected from acts of genocide. The ICJ has ordered Myanmar to take all measures within its power to ensure that Myanmar's military does not commit, or conspire to commit, further acts of genocide and the Myanmar government must report back to the Court within four months on the measures it has taken to implement the Court's order.

It is estimated that more than 730,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar since 2017, when Myanmar’s military launched a brutal campaign in northern Rakhine State that included rape, mass murder and other atrocities.

"We are very pleased with the ICJ's decision", said Jo-Ann Roberts, Interim Leader of the Green Party of Canada. "It sends a strong message of condemnation regarding the genocidal acts committed by the Myanmar military and puts the Myanmar government on notice that the international community will not tolerate any such further actions".

The Green Party of Canada calls upon the Myanmar government to comply fully with the ICJ Order. We also call upon the government of Canada and the UN Security Council to do all that they can to assist in the enforcement of the ICJ Order. "While the unanimity of the ICJ's preliminary ruling carries moral weight, the Court has no independent means to enforce it and the case is ongoing", said Annamie Paul, International Affairs Critic for the Green Party. "The ICJ and the Rohingya will be relying on the members of the UN Security Council to guarantee the enforcement of the court's provisional order, and for UN member states like Canada to support The Gambia until the case is concluded."

# # #

For more information, or to arrange an interview contact:

Rosie Emery
Press Secretary
613-562-4916x206
rosie.emery@greenparty.ca