DHAKA, Nov 19, 2020 (BSS) – The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday adopted a
resolution for urgent solution of Rohingya crisis asking for ensuring safe
and sustainable return of Rohingyas to their homes by creating a conducive
environment inside Myanmar.
The Resolution also called for specific actions on the part of Myanmar
including pointing out root causes of the Rohingya crisis including granting
them citizenship as well as taking confidence building measures such as
addressing justice and accountability.
The resolution, co-tabled by OIC and EU received sponsorship from 104
member States, demonstrated strong and unified support in favour of the
persecuted Rohingya Muslims and other minorities, who continue to suffer from
human rights violations in Myanmar, according to a press release received
here today.
A total of 132 countries voted in favour of the resolution, while 9
countries voted against and 31 countries abstained. Apart from the member
states of EU & OIC, the resolution received significant cross-regional
support, with co-sponsorship from USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Australia,
New Zealand, Switzerland etc.
Some key ASEAN countries like Indonesia and Malaysia also cosponsored the
resolution titled “The Situation of Human Rights of the Rohingya Muslims and
other minorities in Myanmar”.
This year the resolution has also taken some new developments into account
including 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 also expressed deep appreciation to the Government of
Bangladesh, which under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has
demonstrated exemplary humanitarian gesture by sheltering and protecting the
Rohingyas.
The efforts of Government of Bangladesh in tackling the spread of Covid 19
pandemic in the largest camp in the world was also recognized in the
platform. The resolution called international community to support Bangladesh
in its humanitarian endeavor.
Bangladesh Permanent Representative in the UN Ambassador Rabab Fatima
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”, she said.
Fatima said this resolution will reinforce the calls made by Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina for an urgent solution to this crisis. The Ambassador of
Bangladesh 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,” she 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.
The UN resolution on Myanmar continues to remain an important source of
international norms in guiding a desired solution to this longstanding
Rohingya crisis.