The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called upon the ad hoc ministerial committee led by the Gambia to take immediate measures to launch the case of Myanmar’s human rights violations against Rohingyas at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on behalf of the OIC.
It affirmed its support for the ad hoc ministerial committee on human rights violations against the Rohingyas in Myanmar, using all international legal instruments to hold accountable the perpetrators of crimes against the Rohingya, according to the final communique issued by the OIC after the 14th Islamic Summit Conference held in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Bangladesh is hosting over 1.2 million Rohingya people in Cox’s Bazar district and majority of them entered the country since August 25, 2017.
The conference insisted on the importance of conducting international, independent and transparent investigations into the human rights violations in Myanmar, including sexual violence and aggression against children, and to hold accountable all those responsible for these brutal acts in order to make justice to the victims.
The OIC member states called for ensuring free and unrestricted access to humanitarian assistance by affected persons and communities.
They reiterated its deep appreciation for the people of Bangladesh and the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for opening their hearts and borders and giving shelter in Bangladesh to the forcibly displaced Rohingyas and consistently supporting the dispossessed and distressed Rohingya with Bangladesh’s scarce resources.
The conference called on the member states to come up generously to share the increasing burden of Bangladesh.
The conference welcomed various mechanisms established at the international level to improve the situation in Rakhine State, and reiterated its support to regional mechanisms, particularly Asean through Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre), in conducting the necessary needs assessment to identify areas of cooperation in order to create conditions conducive for safe, voluntary, and dignified return of the Rohingyas.
The conference condemned the inhumane situation in which the Rohingya Muslim community lives and called for urgent action to end acts of violence and all brutal practices targeting this minority and give it all its rights without any discrimination or racial profiling. It emphasised that the government of Myanmar is fully responsible for the protection of its citizens and underscored the need to stop the use of military power in Rakhine immediately. The conference urged the government of Myanmar to take practical, time-bound and concrete steps to restore the citizenship of Rohingya IDPs and forcibly displaced Rohingya Muslim Minority Community who were deprived of their nationality, with all associated rights, especially the right to full citizenship, and to allow and facilitate the return in safely, security and dignity of all Rohingyas internally and externally displaced, including those forced into taking shelter in Bangladesh.
The conference reiterated adherence to the purposes, objectives and principles of the OIC Charter, such as to serve the causes of Islam and Muslims, within a spirit of genuine solidarity.
It reaffirmed its commitment to the implementation of the resolutions of OIC Summits and Ministerial Conferences.
The conference endorsed the outcome documents including resolutions of the previous OIC Summits and Councils of Foreign Ministers as well as ministerial Executive Committee meetings.
The conference reiterated its continued support for the OIC’s efforts, initiatives and good offices intended to contribute to finding equitable and just solutions to the issues of Muslim communities and minorities in non-member states.
It commended the role of the OIC in protecting the rights of these communities and minorities and preserving their identity, culture and dignity, particularly in Myanmar, Southern Philippines and Southern Thailand as well as the causes of Muslims in Europe, in total respect of the sovereignty of the States in which they live.
