Seven Nobel Peace Prize laureates, including prominent activist Tawakkol Karman, have issued a joint plea to Myanmar's state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, urging her to publicly acknowledge the egregious crimes, including genocide, committed against the Rohingya minority in the country.

Their call comes as the International Court of Justice, the apex judicial body of the United Nations, commenced public hearings on Tuesday regarding the atrocities inflicted upon the Rohingya community. Aung San Suu Kyi is anticipated to present herself before the court to address these grave allegations.

Noteworthy is the fact that three of the Nobel laureates, among them Tawakkol Karman, embarked on a visit to a refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, in February 2018. There, they listened to the harrowing accounts of over 100 Rohingya women, further solidifying their resolve to seek justice and accountability for the victims of these heinous acts.

The collective message from the laureates underscores the pressing need for acknowledgment and redress, shedding light on the ongoing quest for justice in the face of unspeakable suffering endured by the Rohingya population.

Here is the text of the statement:

Nobel peace laureates to Aung San Suu Kyi:

Publicly acknowledge crimes against Rohingya at International Court of Justice

As Nobel Peace laureates, we call on Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, to publicly acknowledge the crimes, including genocide, committed against the Rohingya. We are deeply concerned that instead of condemning these crimes, Aung San Suu Kyi is actively denying that these atrocities even occurred.

The Gambia filed a lawsuit in November 2019 with the International Court of Justice – the United Nations’ highest court – for atrocities committed against the Rohingya by Myanmar. Proceedings start on December 10 and Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s state counsellor, will appear before the court.

We commend The Gambia for taking this step to hold Myanmar responsible for the genocide against the Rohingya and for advancing justice for the victims of these crimes. Just days after the International Court of Justice complaint was lodged, the International Criminal Court announced that it will be investigating crimes committed against the Rohingya.

The Rohingya, a Muslim and ethnic minority in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, have suffered decades of systematic discrimination with the government of Myanmar not even recognizing them as citizen. In 2017, Myanmar’s military, police and local militia burned Rohingya villages, systematically shot and killed Rohingya and committed acts of sexual violence and rape – used as a weapon of war –  against women and girls.  Since August 2017, Bangladesh has received close to 700,000 Rohingya refugees with now close to one million Rohingya living in refugee camps in Bangladesh. Many fear repatriation as there is no guarantee for their safety if returned to Myanmar.

As people of peace, we urge Aung San Suu Kyi to address the systematic discrimination of the Rohingya in Rakhine State, and ensure the Rohingya’s right to nationality, land ownership, freedom of movement and other fundamental rights. We also urge her to exercise her personal and moral responsibility towards the Rohingya and acknowledge and condemn the genocide committed under her watch.

Aung San Suu Kyi must be held criminally accountable, along with her army commanders, for crimes committed.

 Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Laureate (2003) – Iran

Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Laureate (2011) – Liberia

Tawakkol Karman, Nobel Peace Laureate (2011) – Yemen

Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate, (1976) – Northern Ireland

Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Nobel Peace Laureate (1992) – Guatemala

Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate (1997) – USA

Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Laureate (2014) – India