IIMM - Myanmar – Contribution to the Trust Fund for the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar

Project completed

By contributing to the Trust Fund of the IIMM, Switzerland will actively support the collection of evidence on international law abuses and crimes in Myanmar, for increased accountability and with the aim of deterring future international crimes. The support of the Mechanism complements Switzerland’s Country Program by strengthening accountability for human rights.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Myanmar
Human rights
Human rights (incl. Women's rights)
01.12.2021 - 31.12.2023
CHF  800’000
Background After reasonable grounds existed to conclude that gross human rights violations amounting to serious international crimes had been committed in Myanmar (especially in 2017), the UN Human Rights Council established the IIMM (Resolution 39/2) with the mandate to collect, preserve and analyze evidence, which can be used as a basis for accountability efforts at any time in the future in potential trials. Following the military takeover on February 1, 2021, reported information increased substantially. The evidence indicates that Myanmar’s security forces have carried out widespread and systematic attacks on the civilian population. It is understood that these events fall within IIMM’s mandate. To effectively pursue this mandate, IIMM needs to increase its resources and capacities. 
Objectives Support and improve independent investigation and accountability for serious international crimes in Myanmar.
Target groups

-    Victims of serious international crimes and their representatives, civil society actors, comprising individuals, organizations and networks from inside Myanmar and diaspora communities.

-    Competent investigative, prosecutorial or judicial authorities in national, regional or international court or tribunals that have or may in the future have jurisdiction over the most serious international crimes and violations of international law committed in Myanmar since 2011. 

Medium-term outcomes

a)    Evidence of the most serious international crimes and violations of international law in Myanmar since 2011 is collected, properly consolidated, preserved and analyzed by IIMM.

b)    Fair and independent criminal proceedings before national, regional and international courts or tribunals through quality case preparation by IIMM.

c)    All relevant actors, including victims and the general public, are well informed and aware of the mandate, work and expected results of the mechanism.

Results

Expected results:  

The Mechanism:

-    Increased its open source investigation capacity (specialized equipment and expertise);

-    Increased its financial investigation capacity (specialized equipment and expertise);

-    Increased its Sexual and Gender-Based Crimes (SGBS) and Crimes against Children investigation capacity (specialized equipment and expertise); 

-    Enhanced its engagement with civil society. 


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • Other UN Organisation


Other partners
Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM)
Coordination with other projects and actors

-    Synergies with judicial proceedings, such as the ICC investigation on Rakhine State and the ICJ Gambia lawsuit against Myanmar for genocide;

-    Synergies with UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Switzerland being one of the most important donors to OHCHR;

-    Synergies with Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD)-supported regional human rights projects such as Fortify Rights and Access Now.

-    Synergies with activities supported by SDC in Myanmar such as UNFPA’s Women & Girls First, support to civil society organizations and protection activities.

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    800’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    790’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   800’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   800’000
Project phases Phase 2 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2026   (Current phase)

Phase 1 01.12.2021 - 31.12.2023   (Completed)