The February 2021 coup plunged Myanmar into political instability, economic collapse and widespread armed conflict. Things got even worse this year when a military-dominated parliament elected Min Aung Hlaing president in April, following sham elections. He is the man many international observers hold responsible for the 2017 military campaign against Rohingya people, and he now leads the same military accused of mass killings, rape, forced displacement and other serious abuses. Justice through Myanmar’s legal and political institutions looks as distant as ever. For many Rohingya survivors, his presidency confirms that those responsible for atrocities are protected instead of punished.

Five years after the coup, life for Rohingya people has worsened in almost every respect, with rising insecurity, deeper poverty and continued violations of their human rights, including human trafficking, kidnapping, repeated displacement, sexual abuse and violence, and the threat of drone attacks. They are still denied citizenship and equal rights.

Many Rohingya people live in overcrowded displacement camps inside Myanmar or refugee camps in Bangladesh, where access to quality education, employment, healthcare and clean water is limited. This puts safety, justice and a dignified future further out of reach.

We conduct research, field monitoring and community-based documentation of human rights violations against Rohingya communities, collecting, verifying and analysing information through community networks, survivor and witness testimonies and other evidence to publish accurate, evidence-based reports.

We also engage with local and international civil society groups to advocate for civilian protection, humanitarian access, justice, accountability and durable solutions for Rohingya refugees and displaced communities. Through in-person and online workshops, we present research findings, strengthen international partnerships and amplify the voices of Rohingya communities.

Although our primary focus is Rohingya people, we also advocate for and collaborate with other ethnic communities affected by conflict and human rights violations across Myanmar.

The genocide complaint against Min Aung Hlaing, filed by a Rohingya survivor in Indonesia, offers a path to justice that Myanmar’s institutions cannot. Independent investigation and prosecution at home remain unlikely, so Rohingya survivors and human rights groups have turned to international courts and foreign legal systems instead. The case reflects the Rohingya community’s determination to preserve evidence and ensure that alleged crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and persecution are not forgotten. The legal process may be complex and take years, but it is already drawing international attention and pressure on Myanmar’s military leadership.

But accountability has to go further than one case. The international community must ensure that all those responsible for the 2017 genocide and other serious crimes against Rohingya people face credible, independent legal processes, delivering justice for victims and survivors. This means not only prosecuting those responsible, but also recognising the rights of Rohingya people, restoring their citizenship, ensuring safe and voluntary return for refugees and preventing future persecution.

The International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice must also investigate the reported mass killings and other serious violations committed against Rohingya civilians by the Arakan Army. Accountability efforts should focus on prosecuting individuals against whom there is sufficient evidence of responsibility for crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international law.

For these efforts to succeed, states should cooperate with investigations, share evidence, support survivors and witnesses and ensure that accused people cannot escape accountability because of their political positions.