Rohingya Genocide Survivors Reach International Court of Justice as Historic Hearings Begin

THE HAGUE, Netherlands,

By Rohingya Political Journalist Saiful Arakani

January 11, 2026.

Rohingya genocide survivors from Canada and Bangladesh Refugee camp have arrived at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague ahead of the historic hearings scheduled to take place from January 12 to January 29, 2026, in a landmark case accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya people.

The hearings represent one of the most significant international legal battles in the global pursuit of justice for the Rohingya Muslim community, a persecuted ethnic and religious minority that has endured decades of state-sponsored violence, systematic discrimination, and mass atrocities in Myanmar. Many international observers, human rights organizations, and legal experts have described these crimes as genocide.

The case, The Gambia v. Myanmar, was filed in November 2019 by the West African nation of The Gambia, acting on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The application accuses Myanmar of violating the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

The filing stems from Myanmar’s military operations in Rakhine State in 2016 and 2017, during which Myanmar’s armed forces carried out what survivors and investigators describe as a brutal “clearance campaign.”

These operations resulted in the killing of tens of thousands of Rohingya civilians, widespread sexual violence, the burning and destruction of entire villages, and forced the displacement of more than 700,000 Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh. Today, over one million Rohingya live as refugees in Bangladesh, while the Myanmar government continues to deny that genocide was committed.

Among those present in The Hague are Rohingya genocide survivors who fled Myanmar in 2017, many after witnessing the massacre of their family members by Myanmar’s military forces. Traveling from refugee camps in Bangladesh and diaspora communities in Canada, their presence at the ICJ is both symbolic and deeply personal.

For these survivors, the journey to The Hague is not merely geographical ,it represents a long-awaited hope for recognition, accountability, and justice for their murdered relatives and destroyed communities. Having escaped with nothing but their lives, they carry with them painful testimonies, documented evidence, and the collective memory of atrocities committed against the Rohingya people.

Their presence underscores the enduring trauma faced by genocide survivors and highlights the urgent demand for justice in a court where Myanmar’s continued denial will be confronted with eyewitness accounts, satellite imagery, expert reports, and documented evidence.

What’s at Stake in the ICJ Hearings

The hearings form part of the merits phase of the case, the stage in which The Gambia will present its full legal and factual evidence demonstrating that Myanmar committed genocide under international law.

To establish genocide, the ICJ must determine not only that prohibited acts occurred, such as killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement, but also that these acts were carried out with the specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, the Rohingya as an ethnic, racial, or religious group.

According to the hearing schedule, The Gambia will present its arguments from January 12 to 15, followed by Myanmar’s response from January 16 to 20. Witness testimony, expert legal analysis, and detailed evidentiary submissions are expected to play a central role throughout the proceedings.

Legal experts note that this will be the first full genocide case heard on the merits at the ICJ in more than a decade, underscoring the global importance of the Rohingya case and its potential impact on international law.

International Legal and Political Dimensions

At least eleven countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark, have formally intervened in support of The Gambia’s legal position. These interventions emphasize that genocide under international law encompasses not only mass killings, but also acts such as forced displacement, systematic sexual violence, and other measures causing serious bodily or mental harm.

Myanmar, however, continues to reject the allegations, insisting that its military operations were aimed at counter-insurgency efforts and not at the destruction of the Rohingya as a group.

Voices of the Rohingya and Global Advocacy

For Rohingya survivors attending the hearings, the moment carries immense emotional weight. Many see the ICJ proceedings as the world’s best opportunity to finally acknowledge the scale of crimes committed against them and to hold those responsible accountable under international law.

Global human rights organizations and advocacy groups have welcomed the hearings, describing them as a critical step toward justice. They argue that a strong ruling could set a powerful legal precedent, particularly regarding the recognition of gender-based violence and forced displacement as core elements of genocidal conduct.

As the hearings begin, Rohingya genocide survivors stand alongside international legal teams, human rights defenders, and supporters from around the world in their pursuit of justice at the world’s highest court.

For many survivors, these proceedings are more than a legal process, they are a chance for truth, dignity, and accountability, and for the international community to confront one of the gravest atrocities of the 21st century.