Bangladesh/ Myanmar situation: How victims can submit their views to ICC Judges
On 4 July 2019, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court ("ICC"), Fatou Bensouda, requested the authorisation from Pre-Trial Chamber III to initiate an investigation into alleged crimes against the civilian Rohingya population in Myanmar since at least 9 October 2016 ("Situation in Bangladesh/Myanmar").
As per the ICC's legal framework, the victims of the alleged crimes committed against the Rohingya population in Myanmar have the right to submit "representations", i.e. to provide their views, concerns and expectations, to the ICC Judges who are considering the Prosecutor's request.
The Victims Participation and Reparations Section ("VPRS") of the Registry is responsible for assisting victims in the process of submitting representations. To help facilitate this process, the VPRS has prepared a template victim representation form which is available in various formats: PDF form in English, Burmese and Bangla/Bengali, a Rohingya audio recording of the form and an online form in English. Guidelines on how to fill in the form are also available in English, Burmese, Bangla/Bengali and Rohingya (audio) to help victims understand and fill in the representation form. Victims can also submit representations in other formats, e.g. video, audio, etc. It is important that the representations, irrespective of their format, contain the information requested in the template representation form.
The deadline for submitting victim representation forms to the ICC is 28 October 2019. Please note that the process of submitting representations is voluntary and free of charge.
This is not an application process for participation in court proceedings or for obtaining reparations before the ICC. The process initiated by the Prosecutor is limited to the submission of victims' views, concerns and expectations on the Prosecutor's request to open an investigation. Representations made under article 15 (3) of the Rome Statute do not grant victims participatory status in potential future judicial proceedings. Should such proceedings arise in the future, victims interested in applying to participate in judicial proceedings before the ICC or for reparations in this situation will have to fill in a separate application form which will be made available then.
A Questions and Answers Document is available in English, Burmese, Bangla/Bengali and Rohingya (audio).
For further information on the situation, click here.
Please contact the VPRS at [email protected] for any questions in regards to filling in the representation form and any related issue.