OIC to mobilise resources for ICJ case against Myanmar

Foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen leads a Bangladesh delegation in the Organization for Islamic Cooperation Senior Officials Meeting. Photo: BSS

OIC Senior Officials Meeting has agreed to convene a pledging conference during the upcoming Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting in Niger to mobilise resources for the ICJ case against Myanmar on accountability for human rights violations against the Rohingyas. The agreement was reached on Tuesday during the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) preparatory to the upcoming 47th CFM meeting to be held in Niger on 3-4 April, said a press release of Bangladesh foreign ministry.

Foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen led Bangladesh delegation at the OIC Senior Officials Meeting at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 9-11 February.

The SOM welcomed the historic unanimous decision on 23 January 2020 of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering provisional measures to prevent further acts of genocide against the Rohingyas in Myanmar, which sets a historical precedence in legal efforts in upholding the rights of persecuted minorities anywhere in the world.

The OIC delegates also agreed to Bangladesh proposals for continued support to the Gambia in the case at ICJ until a final verdict is issued, follow up on the ICJ’s notification of its order of provisional measures to the UN Security Council pursuant to Article 41(2) of the Statute of ICJ, and to contribute in the resources mobilisation efforts to ensure safe, dignified and sustained return and resettlement of the Rohingyas to their legitimate homeland in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.

The OIC General Secretariat has also set up a dedicated account to facilitate the resource mobilisation efforts.

The 45th OIC CFM held in Dhaka established an OIC Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee on Accountability for Human Rights Violations Against the Rohingyas, with the Gambia as chair, with a view to mobilising and coordinate international political support, particularly through the 57-member OIC process.

Following a submission by the Gambia, on behalf of the OIC, the ICJ held its first hearing on 10-12 December in 2019 in the case against Myanmar for its gross violation of human rights against the Rohingyas.

On the sidelines of the SOM, foreign secretary Momen held a meeting with the members of the Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee on Accountability for Human Rights Violations against the Rohingya.

The Bangladesh foreign secretary appreciated the Gambian delegation for their dedication to the Rohingya cause in lodging the case with the ICJ.

He also sought continued support from all members of the Committee for mobilising resources, including political support, to ensure early repatriation and resettlement of the Rohingya in their homeland in Rakhine state of Myanmar.

The SOM congratulated Bangladesh for hosting the upcoming second Brainstorming Session to be held in Dhaka on 10-20 February this year on the Comprehensive Reform of OIC.

In this regard the meeting also finalised a draft Resolution outlining the follow up mechanism for the outcome of the Brainstorming Session.

The SOM further discussed on draft resolutions on issues concerning the Middle East peace process in the wake of US ‘Deal of the Century’, status of Muslim communities and minorities in the non-OIC member states, combating international terrorism, Cairo Declaration of Human Rights, Makkah Document on ‘The Values of Moderation and Middle Stance in the Holy Quran and the Sunnah’, humanitarian, legal or statutory and administrative or financial affairs.

Draft resolutions finalised at the SOM will be finally adopted during the CFM to be held in Niger in April.