Rohingya Crisis at the ICJ: A Turning Point and the Path Forward
In January 2026, landmark hearings commenced at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case brought by The Gambia concerning alleged genocide against the Rohingya people.1 For one of the world’s most persecuted communities, this moment carried deep symbolic weight, representing a culmination of years of advocacy, documentation, and persistence finally gaining traction on a global legal forum.2 However, the hearings also raise a critical question: what tangible changes will occur for the Rohingya people if Myanmar itself does not undergo fundamental change?
Increased Rohingya Representation on the Global Stage
Over the past year, Rohingya advocates have achieved unprecedented levels of diplomatic representation. Rohingya women participated in a UN High-Level Conference, and community-led cultural and advocacy initiatives have reached global audiences.1 This increased visibility is not merely symbolic; it humanizes the issues, shapes whose futures are considered imaginable, and lends credibility to claims of genocide.
Australia’s Role in Supporting the Rohingya
Australia has recognized the Rohingya crisis as a priority within its humanitarian and foreign policy agenda over the past five years. This commitment has manifested in expanded resettlement pathways, sustained humanitarian funding – including a recent A$370 million commitment over three years – and the explicit inclusion of the Rohingya in DFAT’s humanitarian strategies.1 In 2025, Australia supported the participation of Noor Azizah, a Rohingya advocate, at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Leaders Week, signaling support for women’s voices in international spaces.
Civil Society Initiatives and Community-Led Solidarity
Beyond governmental efforts, civil society partnerships have flourished. The Creative Advocacy Partnership, involving organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), launched the Taro Leaf initiative, a community-led symbol that reached over 15 million people online. The Meeras Pavilion, an interactive exhibition of Rohingya art and culture, attracted over 35,000 attendees in Sydney, fostering meaningful solidarity grounded in relationships, agency, and dignity.
The Persistent Challenges in Myanmar
Despite these advancements, the core constraint remains the structural violence within Myanmar. Over the last 18 months, fighting between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar Armed Forces has forced more than 100,000 Rohingya to flee.1
The Humanitarian Crisis in Bangladesh and Beyond
Currently, over 1.2 million Rohingya refugees struggle to survive in camps in Bangladesh, facing aid dependency and indefinite containment.1 MSF continues to observe a deterioration in mental and physical health, alongside the resurgence of preventable infectious diseases, outcomes directly linked to prolonged confinement and statelessness. Across the region, Rohingya people continue to undertake increasingly perilous boat journeys, driven by desperation.
Myanmar as a Foreign Policy Impasse for Australia
Myanmar presents a foreign policy challenge for Australia, characterized by condemnation, humanitarian commitment, and reliance on regional frameworks, but hampered by a lack of pathways to improve conditions for people within the country. This situation is often described as a “blind spot” in diplomatic and NGO circles.
The Limitations of Current Approaches
Since the 2021 military coup, Australia’s non-engagement policy with Myanmar’s military authorities has evolved into a broader absence of political imagination regarding potential avenues for change. This impacts not only the Rohingya but also other disenfranchised groups in Myanmar facing violence and discrimination. Myanmar currently represents one of the world’s largest and most complex humanitarian crises, with over 3.6 million people internally displaced and nearly a third of the population in need of assistance.
The Need for a New Framework
The current reliance on ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus, while demonstrating a commitment to regional leadership, has not altered conditions on the ground after five years. A shift is needed to explore credible ways of engaging around Myanmar, supporting civilian protection, accountability, and future humanitarian conditions without legitimizing those responsible for atrocities.
The Role of Humanitarian Aid and the Path to Durable Solutions
Humanitarian aid can alleviate suffering and preserve life, but it cannot deliver durable solutions or substitute for change within Myanmar. While aid has bought time, it does not inherently produce rights, safety, or the possibility of return. Without parallel investment in political pathways and civilian protection, humanitarian aid risks becoming a mechanism for managing the consequences of violence and reinforcing containment policies.
Moving Beyond Visibility to Viability
Recognition of the Rohingya crisis is necessary, but insufficient. For the crisis to move from visibility to viability, the international community – including Australia – must confront the challenging question of how to shape change in a state that resists it.1 This requires investment in independent analysis, academic and policy spaces, grassroots diplomacy, and new frameworks for engagement.