Burma’s military commits large-scale violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law. In addition to the Rohingya, the military has targeted other ethnic and religious groups over decades, and ongoing civil wars and abuses continue today. Comprehensive documentation and analyses of these patterns of violations across populations, geographies, and history are necessary for understanding the various abuses committed by a common perpetrator and for building effective advocacy and accountability responses both within and outside the country. This talk will also address some of the international law and political challenges facing efforts for international accountability and engagement.

Bio:

Jason Gelbort is an international lawyer specializing in negotiation, constitutional change, and human rights. He serves as a legal adviser to Ethnic Armed Resistance Organization leaders, supporting their engagement in Burma’s peace process since 2013. His work includes assisting advocacy efforts on peace, human rights, and humanitarian issues.

Mr. Gelbort has previous experience contributing to a fact-finding investigation of human rights violations in Burma and working as a Law Fellow on the Public International Law and Policy Group's Burma project. He has worked in the private, public, and non-profit sectors in Vietnam, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Turkey, and the United States. Mr. Gelbort received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School.