53^rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council

Panel discussion on the measures necessary to find durable solutions to the Rohingya crisis and to end all forms of human rights violations and abuses against Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar

Oral statement delivered by Ahmed Adam

On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)

21 June 2023

Mr. President,

We welcome this Panel Discussion on the measures necessary to find durable solutions to the Rohingya crisis and to end all forms of human rights violations and abuses against Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar.

The Myanmar military’s escalating nationwide campaign of terror against the resistance to its attempted coup has further extended the path to durable solutions to Rohingya crisis and continuing persecution of Rohingya. The illegal junta’s unprecedented violence has made conditions thoroughly unsuitable for the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingya to their homes in Myanmar and increase threats to Rohingyas remaining in Myanmar who face continuing genocide.

We are deeply disturbed by plans to proceed with the so-called ‘pilot repatriation project’ for repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar in complete absence of even the basic conditions for their safe return. Forced repatriation of Rohingya refugees while the same military that committed genocide against them continues to commit mass atrocity crimes at a national scale offers no durable solutions to the crisis. It will only deepen the crisis by allowing the military to instrumentalise the desperate situation of Rohingya refugees created by the world’s failure to adequately respond to their humanitarian needs in Cox’s Bazaar for its own legitimacy.

No meaningful discussion on durable solutions is feasible as long as the violence by the military continues. The UN and Member States must demonstrate their sincerity in addressing the Rohingya crisis by taking immediate steps to end the ongoing violence including the imposition of a comprehensive arms embargo on Myanmar.

Key to durable solutions to the Rohingya crisis lies in holding the Myanmar military and perpetrators of genocide against Rohingya accountable, and in genuine recognition their ethnic nationality and restoring fundamental freedoms. We reiterate our call for the referral of Myanmar to the International Criminal Court.

Most importantly, Rohingya should be at the centre of all attempts to find solutions the crisis. Their inclusive and meaningful participation is essential to ensure durability of any solution.

We ask the panelists to elaborate on how all stakeholders, including the National Unity Government, can move beyond merely paying lip service to the concerns of Rohingya to ensuring their genuine participation in finding durable solutions the root causes of persecution and discrimination against Rohingya.

Thank you.

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