Washington accuses Navi Pillay of broadening genocide definition at ICJ
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Jornal F8
The Trump administration has again criticised Navi Pillay, a jurist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, accusing her of seeking to broaden the definition of genocide in Gambia’s case against Myanmar before the International Court of Justice. The court is due to rule before the end of the year on allegations linked to the Myanmar army’s operations against the Rohingya, Jornal F8 reports.
The administration of US President Donald Trump accuses South African jurist Navi Pillay, an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), of seeking to broaden the definition of genocide in the case between Gambia and Myanmar, Jornal F8 reports. The US ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, denounced an interpretation he considers liable to be used against US military personnel and their allies.
The proceedings concern genocide allegations linked to the operation carried out by Myanmar’s army against the Rohingya minority. The ICJ is expected to rule before the end of the year. Gambia’s lawyers argue, among other points, that the intention to cause a population to die through starvation can constitute genocide and that a minimum number of victims should not be decisive.
A ruling favourable to Gambia could affect the separate case brought by South Africa against Israel before the same court over the offensive in the Gaza Strip. Gambia is acting to defend international law, without being directly harmed by the alleged acts.
