UN adopts resolution for urgent solution to Rohingya crisis

The United Nations has adopted a resolution calling for an urgent solution to the protracted Rohingya crisis affecting Bangladesh very badly.

 A total of 132 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while 9 countries voted against and 31 countries abstained on Wednesday (New York time), according to the Bangladesh permanent mission at the UN on Thursday morning.

The resolution “The Situation of Human Rights of the Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar”, co-tabled by OIC and EU received sponsorship from 104 member States, demonstrated strong and unified support in favor of the persecuted Rohingya Muslims and other minorities, who continue to suffer from human rights violations in Myanmar.

Apart from the member states of EU & OIC, the resolution received significant cross-regional support, with co-sponsorship from USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland etc. Some key ASEAN countries like Indonesia and Malaysia also cosponsored the resolution.

This year the resolution has taken some new developments into account, such as, provisional order of the International Court of Justice, initiation of investigation by the International Criminal Court and the issue of continued disenfranchisement of the Rohingya and other minorities, who were barred from participating in the recent general election in Myanmar.

The Resolution called for specific actions on the part of Myanmar, such as, addressing the root causes of the Rohingya crisis including granting them citizenship, ensuring safe and sustainable return of the Rohingyas to their homes by creating a conducive environment, including through confidence building measures such as addressing justice and accountability.

The resolution also expressed deep appreciation to the Government of Bangladesh, which has demonstrated exemplary humanitarian gesture by sheltering and protecting the Rohingyas. The efforts of the Government of Bangladesh in tackling the spread of Covid 19 pandemic in the largest camp in the world were also recognized. The resolution called on the international community to support Bangladesh in its humanitarian endeavor.

Bangladesh Permanent Representative at the UN Ambassador Rabab Fatima thanked the international community for their unremitting support to the UN Resolution, saying, “As a country that hosts over 1.1 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas, Bangladesh continues to seek a peaceful solution to this crisis, which lies in their safe and dignified return to Myanmar.”

She expressed hope that the resolution would create renewed pressure on Myanmar to address the Rohingya crisis by engaging with Bangladesh and other international actors in a constructive manner.

“The ongoing justice mechanisms in respect of the human rights violations committed by Myanmar authorities will also enjoy greater support from the international community,” she added.

Before placing the resolution for voting, the permanent representative of Germany on behalf of the EU and the permanent representative of Saudi Arabia on behalf of OIC made statements in support of the resolution.

In their statements, they expressed hope that this resolution will help address the longstanding plights of the Rohingya Muslims and other minorities by ensuring their basic human rights to return to their homes in safety, security and dignity, and will also help Myanmar overcome the challenges it faces in its democratic transition.

They called Myanmar to take urgent actions to address the citizenship issue of the Rohingya minorities.