United Nations adopts resolution for urgent solution of Rohingya crisis

The United Nations has adopted a resolution that urged Myanmar to take specific actions for an urgent solution to the Rohingya crisis.

The resolution on "The Situation of Human Rights of the Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar" was co-tabled by Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and European Union (EU).

It received sponsorship from 104 member States, demonstrating strong and unified support in favour of the persecuted Rohingya Muslims and other minorities, who continue to suffer from human rights violations in Myanmar. 

A total of 132 countries voted in favour of the resolution, while nine countries voted against and 31 countries abstained, said a press release issued by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the
United Nations in New York on Wednesday. 

Apart from the member states of European Union and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the resolution received significant cross-regional support, with co-sponsorship from USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland. Some key ASEAN countries like Indonesia and Malaysia also cosponsored the resolution.

This resolution will reinforce the calls made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for an urgent solution to this crisis, the root of which lies entirely in Myanmar. 

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 through confidence-building measures, such as, addressing justice and accountability.

The resolution also expressed deep appreciation to the Government of Bangladesh, which, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has demonstrated an 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 recognised. The resolution called upon the international community to support Bangladesh in its humanitarian endeavor. 

Ambassador Rabab Fatima, permanent representative of Bangladesh to the UN, thanked the international community for their unremitting support to the UN Resolution. 

"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," said Ambassador Fatima. 

The Ambassador 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," added the ambassador.

Before placing the resolution for voting, the permanent representative of Germany on behalf of 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 plight 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 overcoming the challenges it faces in its democratic transition. 

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

The UN resolution on Myanmar continues to remain an important source of international norms in guiding a desired solution to this longstanding Rohingya crisis.