Myanmar ordered to protect its Rohingya population

The International Court of Justice ((ICJ)) has ordered Myanmar to take urgent measures to protect its Muslim Rohingya population from persecution and atrocities and preserve evidence of alleged crimes against them. The order was the first time that Myanmar has faced justice over a military crackdown that sent around hundreds of thousands Rohingya fleeing into neighbouring Bangladesh.

Rohingya refugees in the camp at Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh (SBS) Source: SBS

The African country of Gambia launched a lawsuit in November at the United Nations' highest body for disputes between states, accusing Myanmar of genocide against Rohingya in violation of a 1948 convention.

The Gambia asked for the measures pending a full case that could take years.

More than 730,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar after a military-led crackdown in 2017 and were forced into squalid camps across the border in Bangladesh.

Presiding Judge Yusuf Abdulqawi read out the unanimous ruling.

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