The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution to hold a high-level conference on the Rohingya crisis next year aiming at sustainable solutions.
The resolution entitled “The situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar” was jointly tabled by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the European Union.
It was adopted by consensus which was cosponsored by 106 countries, marking a significant level of international support.
Through the resolution, member states decided to hold an all-stakeholder high-level conference, at the earliest possible time in 2025, on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar, to review the overall crisis in order to propose a comprehensive, innovative, concrete and time-bound plan for a sustainable resolution of the crisis, including voluntary, safe and dignified return of Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar.
The organization of the high-level conference was a call from the chief adviser of Bangladesh, Dr Muhammad Yunus, during the high-level week of the 79th UNGA in September.
This year, the resolution, among other issues, called to ensure the right to return of all refugees, including Rohingya Muslims taking shelter in other countries, and take concrete actions to create conditions necessary for voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return and reintegration.
It recognizes and highlights the serious human rights violations and abuses including killings, destruction and burning of houses, hindrance in accessing humanitarian assistance, and forced recruitment of civilians, particularly Rohingya Muslims and other minorities including children.
It also reaffirmed a commitment to support all accountability processes to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The resolution further emphasizes the critical role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) as a regional organization and highlights its initiatives in fulfilment of the five-point consensus in its entirety.
“For us and for the sake of regional as well as international security, creating conditions for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar is of utmost importance," said Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith, permanent representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, while delivering a statement after the adoption of the resolution.
Muhith described how the protracted presence of Rohingyas in Bangladesh has created a complex and worrisome situation.
He expressed disappointment that no real progress could be made in the last seven years to address the root causes of the crisis.
Referring to the Security Council resolution and the resolution adopted on Wednesday, he urged the international community to take necessary actions in creating conditions necessary for the return of Rohingya Muslims.
He also emphasized adequate funding for the humanitarian response plan to support the Rohingya Muslims, pending their return.
"The adoption of the resolution by consensus is a significant step forward, demonstrating the strong commitment of the international community towards a durable resolution of the crisis," the Bangladesh mission in the UN said.
