PRESS RELEASE
Bradford, UK | 21 December 2025
The Rohingya Centre of United Kingdom (RCUK) notes with significance the announcement by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that public hearings on the merits in the case Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar) will take place from 12 to 29 January 2026 in The Hague.
RCUK welcomes this important step in a case first initiated in November 2019, and recognises the continued engagement of the international community in upholding the Genocide Convention.
We express our sincere gratitude to the United Kingdom, which, together with Canada, Denmark, France, Germany and the Netherlands, intervened in the case on 15 November 2023. More than two years later, this intervention demonstrates the UK’s steadfast commitment to accountability, international law, and the prevention of genocide. We also extend our appreciation to the Government and people of Bangladesh, who have provided protection to the Rohingya since 1978 and continue to shoulder a significant humanitarian responsibility with generosity and dignity.
These hearings carry profound meaning for Rohingya people worldwide, including those who remain displaced, fragmented, or disappeared as a result of systematic atrocities and acts of genocide committed by the Burmese military, also now by armed groups operating in the region the Arakan Army (AA). The proceedings affirm that the international community continues to recognise the severity of these crimes and the urgent need for justice, protection, and human dignity.
Today, over 1.5 million Rohingya people continue to live in precarious conditions, lacking citizenship, security, or access to basic human rights. For these communities, the ICJ hearings are more than a legal process, they represent a crucial recognition of their suffering, a step towards accountability, and a reaffirmation of their rights under international law.
RCUK respects the ICJ as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and underscores the importance of continued support from States and international partners to uphold the rule of law, protect civilians, and provide durable solutions for displaced communities.
As stated by Mohammed Amin, Chief Executive Officer, RCUK:
“The announcement of the ICJ’s merits hearings is a significant moment for Rohingya people everywhere, particularly for those still displaced, fragmented, and missing as a result of eight years of genocide and ongoing atrocities.
We thank the United Kingdom and its partners for their intervention, and Bangladesh for its long-standing support in hosting Rohingya refugees. This hearing signals that the world has not forgotten the Rohingya, and that accountability and protection under international law remain possible.
The suffering of our people continues, and while the Court examines this case, meaningful action to protect lives, uphold dignity, and secure rights must accompany justice. The world must see the Rohingya not just as victims, but as a people entitled to safety, recognition, and humanity.”
RCUK remains committed to working with governments, civil society, and international partners to ensure justice, protection, and durable solutions for Rohingya communities.
Media Contact:
Rohingya Centre of United Kingdom (RCUK)
Email: info@rcuk.org.uk
Website: www.rcuk.org.uk
Original press release from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), 19 December 2025
RCUK’s press release and statement provided by Mohammed Amin, CEO of RCUK.