Contribution to the Trust Fund for the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM)


By contributing to the Trust Fund of the IIMM for the second phase, Switzerland will continue to support the collection of evidence on international law abuses and crimes in Myanmar. This support will allow the Mechanism to strengthen accountability for human rights which is otherwise impossible from within the country and in support of eventual justice being delivered. This support fits and complements well the Swiss cooperation programme 2024-27. 

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Myanmar
Human rights
Human rights (incl. Women's rights)
01.01.2024 - 31.12.2026
CHF  720’000
Background On 27 September 2018, the Human Rights Council established the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar with a mandate to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyze evidence of the most serious crimes committed in Myanmar since 2011, including crimes committed against the Rohingya and crimes committed by all parties to the conflict since the military takeover in February 2021. To effectively pursue this mandate, IIMM needs to increase its resources and capacities in innovative technology, investigation, opensource investigations and language translation and interpretation. It is to be noted that Switzerland supported the creation of the IIMM and its establishment in Geneva.
Objectives Support and improve independent investigative capacities 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, prosecution 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 relavant actors, including victims and the general public, are well informed and aware of the mandate, work and expected results of the Mechanism

d) Dialogues organized with representatives from diverse CSOs to build mutual trust, to ensure that CSOs understand the Mechanism’s mandate and its central role in supporting accountability at international and national levels, and to increase the Mechanism’s understanding of on-the-ground realities and the challenges that CSOs face

e) To enhance the Mechanism’s language support capacity to expand the collection of evidential information that currently exists only in Burmese, whether in testimonial, documentary, or any other format

Results

Expected results:  

By the end of this support, the Mechanism has:

  • Increased analytical capabilities and proficiency in the processing and collation of open-source information
  • Enhanced in-house interpretation and translation capacity
  • Increased its capacity in innovative computer technology
  • Enhanced and deepened its engagement with civil society
  • All relavant actors, including victims and the general public, are well informed


Results from previous phases:  

Despite significant operational challenges, the Mechanism successfully:

  • Contributed information to 20 evidentiary packs for investigation teams
  • Completed 199 out of 219 directed requests from investigation teams
  • Promoted a safer online environment for open-source research
  • Facilitated more effective open-source research through training
  • Adopted a more efficient open-source capture process and methodology


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • Other UN Organisation
  • Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM)


Coordination with other projects and actors
  • Synergies with judicial proceedings, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation on Rakhine State and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Gambia lawsuit against Myanmar for genocide
  • Synergies with UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) with Switzerland being one of the most important donors to OHCHR
  • Synergies with activities supported by SDC in Myanmar such as UNFPA’s Women & Girls First, support to civil society organizations and protection activities, support to independent media reporting on human rights (Fondation Hirdonelle, Doh Athan)
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    720’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    270’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF    9’358’236 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   780’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   1’520’000
Project phases Phase 2 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2026   (Current phase) Phase 1 01.12.2021 - 31.12.2023   (Completed)