On 9 September 2019, the Head of the Mechanism presented the Mechanism’s first annual report to the Human Rights Council at its 42nd Session, as required under its mandate. The report sets out the strategy and key challenges of the Mechanism’s first stage of operations, and covers the following areas:
- Selection of cases for investigation
- Accountability for crimes of sexual violence
- Investigations in order to prepare files
- Cooperation
- Sharing of information, documentation and evidence
- Sharing information, documentation and evidence for other purposes
- Public outreach
- Initial priorities of the Mechanism
- Practical steps taken for the operationalization and full functioning of the Mechanism
On 5 August 2019, the annual report was also transmitted to the 74th session of the General Assembly (A/74/278) as required under its mandate.
In September 2020, the Head of the Mechanism presented the Mechanism’s second annual report to the Human Rights Council at its 45th session. The report discusses the significant process the Mechanism has made in its first year of operations. It focused on ramping up its operations and activities on various fronts, including its operational and administrative processes, its engagement with relevant entities and stakeholders, and the implementation of its substantive mandate.
The report was also transmitted to the 75th session of the General Assembly (A/75/197) on 26 August 2020.
In July 2021, the Mechanism issued its third annual report, which was presented by the Head of the Mechanism to the Human Rights Council at its 48th session in September. The report provides an overview of the Mechanism’s efforts to lay a strong foundation for its work since it became operational in August 2019 as well as its plans for expanding its substantive work, intensifying its engagements, and bolstering its operations to enable the perpetrators of the most serious international crimes in Myanmar to be brought to justice. Within the scope of its mandate, the Mechanism has been closely monitoring the situation in Myanmar following the military’s seizure of power on 1 February 2021. While adjustments to planned activities have been necessary in order to respond to rapidly evolving events and the consequent influx of large volumes of information, the Mechanism has also continued to make progress in collecting evidence relating to earlier events. It has ensured that its resources and capacities continue to be used strategically to advance investigations on all priority situations and incidents, including in relation to the situation of the Rohingya population and other situations throughout Myanmar.
The report was also transmitted to the 76th session of the General Assembly (A/76/317) on 8 September 2021.
On 8 August 2022, the Mechanism issued its fourth annual report which was presented by the Head of the Mechanism to the 51st Session of the Human Rights Council on 12 September.
During the reporting period, the scope of potential serious international crimes taking place in Myanmar broadened dramatically, and the Mechanism refined and recalibrated its investigative priorities accordingly. The evidence analysed so far indicates that crimes against humanity and war crimes continue to be systematically committed in Myanmar, with ongoing conflicts severely impacting women, children and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community. The Mechanism has enhanced its specialized capacities and has deployed cutting-edge technology to help process the millions of information items it has received in order to prove the commission of serious international crimes and build cases against the individuals most responsible for them.
Read the press release for more information.
On 8 August 2023, the Mechanism issued its fifth annual report, which was presented by the Head of the Mechanism at the 54th session of the Human Rights Council on 11 September.
The report notes a dramatic increase in the number of incidents bearing the hallmarks of serious international crimes in Myanmar since the military coup in February 2021. It also highlights the Mechanism’s ongoing investigations into sexual and gender-based crimes committed against the Rohingya during the 2016 and 2017 clearance operations by the Myanmar security forces. During the reporting period, the Mechanism significantly increased its collection of eyewitnesses testimonies and expanded its collaboration with civil society organizations.
Read the press release and watch a message from the Head of the Mechanism for more information.
The Mechanism will continue to submit annual reports to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly.
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