The progress in ensuring justice for the Rohingya is moving at a snail’s pace, experts said Tuesday while reflecting on the fifth year of the Myanmar nationals’ exodus to Bangladesh.
Creative solutions are yet to be found, they added.
The experts were speaking at the discussion “Rohingya Influx: Uncertainties at Hope” organised by ActionAid Bangladesh in partnership with, the Centre for Genocide Studies of the University of Dhaka, and the Centre for Peace and Justice of Brac University.
Despite some major decisions made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the last couple of years, there has been little progress in furthering their cause for justice and accountability, Manzoor Hasan, chairperson of ActionAid International Bangladesh Society, said.
“The role of the UN bodies and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could have been far more robust, to say the least. The coup and current situation in Myanmar have only furthered the impunity enjoyed by the military,” he added.
Read: UN Human Rights Council adopts resolution to end Rohingya crisis
‘Progress in ensuring justice for Rohingyas moves at snail’s pace’
Imtiaz Ahmed, professor of International Relations and director of the Centre for Genocide Studies, said: “People are getting impatient in five years. However, in similar crises, we have seen refugees being trapped in the host country for two to three generations.”
He emphasised listening to the voices of the Rohingya people and applauded the positive advancement related to the Rohingya crisis in recent times, such as Rohingyas being recognised in their own identity post-ICJ declaration.
Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, said, “We have not seen any active and sustainable plan from national and global leadership for peaceful repatriation of the Rohingyas.”
“While we all are working in the camps in Bangladesh to support Rohingya people, the focus must not be shifted from ensuring their rights to return to Myanmar with safety and dignity.”
Source: United News of Bangladesh