1st Coordination Meeting: Special Unit on International Criminal Justice

The 1st Work Coordination Meeting of the Special Unit on International Criminal Justice was held at the Ministry of Legal Affairs on Thursday.

Union Minister for Legal Affairs and Union Attorney General Dr Thida Oo gave a speech, saying that the Special Unit on International Criminal Justice was formed seven members including representatives from the Office of Judge Advocate General of the Ministry of Legal Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the letter dated on 25th November 2019 of the former President's Office.

On 19th December 2019, a member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was reorganized.

Then, the Office of the State Administration Council reorganized the Special Unit on International Criminal Justice with the Council Office letter dated on 17th March 2022.

In accordance with the constitution amended by the Office of the State Administration Council, the Ministry of Legal Affairs formed a special unit with the letter of the Ministry dated on 27th May 2022.

This special unit was formed to gather information and study the  International Criminal Law Issues such as the International Criminal Court (ICC); International Court of Justice (ICJ); Ad hoc Tribunal; other possible foreign courts currently working on Myanmar; Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar; International crimes such as Crime against Humanity; Genocide; War Crime and Crime of Aggression and so on in addition to reviewing and reporting information related to the other party's allegations and attempts to take action intended to provide legal action.

The responsibilities on Term of Reference of the Special Unit on International Criminal justice have been drafted.

According to its duties, the task force is to give suggestions to the Government, Tatmadaw, Ministry of Legal Affairs and the government agencies including the Myanmar Police Force and Myanmar embassies abroad in regard with international criminal law, to keep an eye and review on the development of international criminal law, and to submit papers, advice on international law and collect research to higher level organizations if necessary. Attendees at the meeting also made a general round of discussion.