Justice and accountability are essential to any durable solution for the Rohingya people. Decades of persecution and repeated episodes of mass violence have demonstrated the consequences of impunity. ERC therefore supports credible efforts to establish the truth, preserve evidence, pursue accountability and strengthen protection for communities at risk.
Accountability is not only about responding to past crimes. It is also an important means of preventing future violations. When serious abuses are ignored or left without consequences, victims lose confidence in institutions and perpetrators may be encouraged to continue. ERC advocates for sustained international attention to accountability and for approaches that recognise the experiences and rights of survivors.
Supporting international justice efforts
ERC supports legitimate international and national mechanisms working within their mandates to investigate serious violations and pursue justice. We encourage governments and international institutions to cooperate with credible accountability processes and to ensure that the Rohingya situation is not neglected as political circumstances change.
Justice processes should be independent, evidence-based and attentive to the safety and dignity of victims and witnesses. Rohingya survivors and communities should be treated as rights-holders and meaningful participants, not merely as sources of testimony. Their perspectives can help ensure that accountability efforts reflect both the scale of the harm and its continuing consequences.
Documentation and preservation of evidence
Reliable documentation is vital for historical truth, legal accountability and public understanding. ERC recognises the importance of carefully recording incidents, testimonies and other relevant information while respecting consent, confidentiality, security and the wellbeing of survivors. Information concerning grave violations must be handled responsibly and should not expose victims or witnesses to additional danger.
ERC also works to draw attention to new and continuing threats against Rohingya civilians. Accountability cannot be limited to one period or one actor. Allegations of serious violations should be examined on the basis of credible evidence and applicable international law, regardless of who is alleged to have committed them.
Justice as part of a sustainable future
A future based on dignity and equality requires more than an end to immediate violence. It requires recognition of rights, protection from discrimination, access to effective remedies and confidence that serious abuses will not simply be repeated. ERC therefore views justice as closely connected to citizenship, security, return, reconciliation and long-term peace.
ERC will continue to support principled accountability and to encourage the international community to maintain attention to the rights of victims and survivors. Lasting peace cannot be built on impunity; it must be supported by truth, justice, equal rights and effective protection.