ID with the High Commissioner on Rohingya

Human Rights Council, 38th Session

Item 2: Interactive Dialogue with the High Commissioner on Rohingya (res S27/1)

Organisation:CSW (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

Speaker:Claire Denman

Thank you Mr President

CSW welcomes the introduction of resolution S27-1, and wishes to echo the calls made to the government of Myanmar to ensure the protection of the human rights of all persons in the country, including persons belonging to the Rohingya Muslim community and other minorities.

The crisis in Rakhine State has deteriorated rapidly and drastically in the last year. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have fled across the border to Bangladesh and hundreds have been killed. Survivors report widespread, systematic and horrific violations of human rights, including the killing of children.

Reports of physical abuse and of the destruction of entire villages and thousands of homes in attacks by the military suggest an orchestrated campaign to eliminate or drive out much of the Rohingya population.

The latest crisis follows decades of severe persecution of the Rohingyas. The state has continued to deny Rohingyas citizenship, rendering them stateless. The 1982 Citizenship Law remains in force, even though the Rohingyas have lived in the country for several centuries, and certainly many generations. The law has a very serious impact on the Rohingya community who are denied citizenship rights, such as the right to vote, to move freely, or to access basic services.

CSW calls on the international community to invest in supporting initiatives to address racial and religious hatred in Myanmar and to support voices of peace and moderation, while encouraging a reconciliation process.

We urge the government of Myanmar end impunity for all violations and abuses of human rights, including, in particular, those perpetrated against persons belonging to the Rohingya Muslim community and other minorities, and to ensure that those responsible for such crimes are held to account.

In addition, we urge the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council to explore possible avenues to bring perpetrators of crimes under international law to justice, particularly in light of the recent application by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on the question of jurisdiction affecting the deportation of Rohingyas to Bangladesh.

Thank you.