Rohingya repatriation: UNGA to hold high-level conference in 2025 to propose a time-bound plan

 Bangladesh has expressed disappointment over no real progress made in the last seven years to address the root causes of the Rohingya crisis.

Bangladesh also urged the international community to take necessary actions in creating conditions necessary for the repatriation of the Rohingyas.

“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.

He delivered the statement after the adoption of the resolution on the Rohingya crisis at the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on November 20.

The resolution, entitled “The situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar”, jointly tabled by the OIC and the EU has been adopted in the third Committee of the UNGA by consensus which was cosponsored by 106 countries, marking a significant level of international support.

Through the resolution, Member-States decide 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 Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, Professor Muhammad Yunus, during the high-level week of the 79th UNGA in September, said the Bangladesh Mission in the UN on Thursday.

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 recognized and highlighted the serious human rights violations and abuses including killings, destructions and burning of houses, hindrance in accessing humanitarian assistance, forced recruitment of the civilians, particularly Rohingya Muslims and other minorities including children.

It also reaffirmed commitment to support all accountability processes to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The resolution further emphasizes the critical role of ASEAN as a regional organization and highlighted its initiatives in fulfilment of the five-point consensus in its entirety.

In his statement, Ambassador Muhith described how the protracted presence of the Rohingyas in Bangladesh, has created a complex and worrisome situation.

Referring to the Security Council resolution and the resolution adopted in the Third Committee of the General Assembly, he urged the international community to take necessary actions in creating conditions necessary for the return of Rohingya Muslims.

He also emphasized on 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 international community towards a durable resolution of the crisis.