International Desk :
UN Human Rights Council unanimously adopted a resolution on the “Human Rights Situation of Rohingya Muslims and other Minorities in Myanmar” on Monday, calling on the international community to continue providing humanitarian assistance until they return to Myanmar.
The resolution also emphasized bringing all responsible for torture, crimes against humanity, and war crimes against Rohingyas to justice, while also acknowledging the ongoing criminal proceedings in the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.
Since the massive influx of Rohingyas from Myanmar into Bangladesh in August 2017, this is the first time any resolution on Rohingya was adopted in the UN without a vote, due to the intense diplomatic efforts made by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in Geneva.The unanimous adoption of this resolution is a big milestone for Bangladesh, said the Permanent Mission in Geneva in a statement.
Earlier, under Bangladesh’s initiative, all member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) presented the draft before the Council. In the context of the existing political situation in Myanmar, there had been strong divergences and differences among the UN member states on various elements of the text from the outset.
After tough and lengthy negotiations at several phases, the resolution was unanimously adopted by the Council.
The resolution also reiterates the authority of the UN Security Council to determine what to do in such a situation, while also requesting the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to submit a report to the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly on the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar.
It also called for a panel discussion in the Human Rights Council on “the root causes of human rights violations and abuses against Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar.”
During the adoption, Md. Mustafizur Rahman, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in Geneva, said Bangladesh sheltered the Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds, but it is regrettable that even in the last four years, their repatriation has not happened because of the continued non-cooperation and reluctance of Myanmar.
He also said that the Rohingya crisis and the protection of human rights of the Rohingya refugees must remain high on the UN agenda.
The ambassador said the current political turmoil in Myanmar should not detract the international community from paying due attention to the refugee crisis and seeking a durable solution.
He called upon the international community to play a visible and effective role in ensuring the return of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas with full security and dignity.
