Human Rights Council

56th session of the Human Rights Council

09 September  to 11 October 2024

Geneva, 9 September 2024

Thank you, Mr. President,

Albania welcomes the report of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, which covers the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. The report presents thoroughly the increasing violence and crimes against civilians and the human rights abuses, including those against the Rohingya minority.

We are very concerned about sharply deteriorating situation across Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine State, where indiscriminate targeting and killing of civilians through airstrikes, large-scale burning of homes, violent suppression of protests, torture, unlawful imprisonment, and attacks on civilians continue to be a widespread phenomenon.

The contribution of the Mechanism in gathering substantial evidence of crimes committed (nearly 28 million items of evidence from over 900 sources) including witness statements, social media post, photographs, videos, documents, maps, and forensic evidence is essential for the benefit of justice and ensuring that those responsible for these heinous crimes are held accountable.

Accountability is the only way to end the culture of impunity in Myanmar and it is vital that perpetrators of human rights violations, including sexual and gender-based violence are brought to justice.

Albania will continue to fully support the work of the Mechanism aimed at ensuring the accountability of perpetrators and justice for victims of the most serious international crimes and violations of international law committed in Myanmar since 2011.

I thank you.