New york: The High-Level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar is set to convene at the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations Headquarters on Tuesday. Representatives from a minimum of 75 countries and organizations, including heads of state and government, are confirmed to attend the event, which will commence at 10:00 am local time (8:00 pm Bangladesh time), as stated by Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the conference, organized by the UN, aims to mobilize political support, maintain international focus on the ongoing crisis, review the current situation, and tackle its root causes, notably human rights concerns. The event will serve as a platform to exchange perspectives on the ground situation and propose a comprehensive, innovative, concrete, and time-bound plan for a sustainable resolution. Ensuring the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar is highlighted as a key priority.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to speak during the opening session. Turkey will represent the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), while Kuwait will represent the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at the conference.
Ahead of the conference, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop, and UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell held separate meetings with the Chief Adviser at his hotel on Monday. The discussions focused on issues related to the crisis, as reported by the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam during a briefing at a city hotel.
The meetings addressed the overall Rohingya and civil war situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, exploring pathways for Rohingya repatriation, increasing funding for Rohingyas living in camps, and developing strategies to educate and skill Rohingya children.