June 23, Nay Pyi Taw
The first coordination meeting of the Special Unit on International Criminal Justice was held at the meeting hall of the Ministry of Legal Affairs at 9:30. in this morning, and H.E. Dr. Thida 00, the Union Minister and Union Attorney General, attended and delivered a speech.
The Union Minister and Union Attorney General said in her speech that the Special Unit on International Criminal Justice was formed with seven members of representatives from the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Office of Judge Advocate General and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by letter No. Office on 25-11-2019 and a representative from Ministry of Foreign Affairs was replaced on 19-12-2019; Afterwards, the Office of the State Administration Council reformed the Special Unit on International Criminal Justice by letter No. 112/(2)/8/Council Office on 17-3-2022 with fifteen members representing the Office of the Judge Advocate General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education headed by the Ministry of Legal Affairs; the Ministry of Legal Affairs asked the relevant Ministries for the names of representatives in order to create the Special Unit in conformity with the State Administration Council’s newly reformed structure and the Special Unit was created with the letter No.4 (12) 1-74/ Na Pa Ta (173) on 27-5-2022; the Special Unit was founded to collect, observe and review the information of case citations, definitions in relating to International Criminal Court (ICC), International Court of Justice (ICJ), Ad hoc Tribunal, other recent potential foreign courts activity against Myanmar, Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), FEM, ICOE, International Crimes such as Crime against Humanity, Genocide, War Crime, Crime of Aggression and IHL etc. relating to International Criminal Law and to provide legal function on information against the other party’s allegations and making efforts to take action; in order to assist the Special Unit, the Ministry of Legal Affairs established the International Criminal Law Branch (ICLB) under the International Law and ASEAN Legal Affairs Division (Division (4) of Department 2), Legal Advice Department with order No.99/2022 of the Ministry of Legal Affairs on 31-3-2022; TOR(Term of Reference) for the Special Unit on International Criminal Justice has been written; in accordance with its mandate, the Special Unit is required to provide legal advice and suggestions to the Government, the Defense Services, the Ministry of Legal Affairs and the Government Agencies including the Myanmar Police Force and Myanmar embassies abroad with regard to international criminal law and judiciary; to study the development of international criminal law and to monitor and review its effects on Myanmar; after reviewing the matters on the international law, domestic laws, including Defense Services law, the Special Unit has to prepare and submit their research and advice documents to high level organizations.
At the meeting, attendees cordially discussed matters to proceed and coordinate further.
(MOLA’s New)