Ahead of the eighth anniversary of the atrocities of the Myanmar military against the Rohingyas, 58 rights organisations have called for urgent international action to end impunity and ensure accountability.
“Since August 2017, Myanmar’s security forces have razed hundreds of Rohingya villages, killing men, women, and children and forcing more than 700,000 people to flee to Bangladesh. Yet, eight years later, not a single perpetrator has been held accountable,” said the organisations.
August 25 marks eight years since the Myanmar military launched atrocities against the Rohingya in Rakhine state.
In a joint statement released yesterday, they recalled that an independent international fact-finding mission had found evidence of genocide and crimes against humanity in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
The statement also highlighted ongoing persecution of Rohingyas who remain in Myanmar, including movement restrictions, food shortages, forced conscription, and abuses by both the junta and the Arakan Army.
The rights groups warned that conditions are worsening in Cox’s Bazar, where over one million Rohingya refugees are facing abductions, sexual violence, shrinking aid, and deteriorating health and education services.
“Impunity remains pervasive,” the statement said, noting that while the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are pursuing cases against Myanmar, no concrete accountability has been achieved.
It pointed out that the ICC prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant against Myanmar Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing in November 2024 is still pending.
The groups urged the United Nations Security Council to refer the situation in Myanmar to the ICC and called on UN member states to use universal jurisdiction to prosecute perpetrators of atrocities, as seen in Argentina.
They also raised concerns over the upcoming UN High-level Conference on the Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar, scheduled for September 30 in New York.
“Rohingya representation is lacking. Survivors, women, youth, and Rohingya-led civil society must be at the forefront of discussions about their future,” the statement said.
The signatories further urged host countries, including Bangladesh, to protect the rights of Rohingya refugees, ensuring access to education and livelihoods and safeguarding against forced returns to Myanmar.
“We stand united in our call for an end to impunity, the right of the Rohingya to live in safety and dignity, full recognition of the Rohingya as citizens of Myanmar, and the inclusion of their voices in shaping the country’s future,” the statement concluded.
The 58 organisations included Amnesty International, Fortify Rights, Human Rights Watch, Burma Campaign UK, European Rohingya Council, Odhikar, Refugees International, Robert F Kennedy Human Rights, and numerous Rohingya-led networks.
Signed:
- Signed:
1. Al-Arakan Integrity Foundation
2. Amnesty International
3. Arakan Rohingya Committee
4. Arakan Rohingya National Council
5. Arakan Rohingya National Union
6. Arakan Youth Peace Network
7. Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network
8. Assistance Association for Myanmar-based Independent Journalists
9. Rohingya Association of Thailand
10. Beyond Borders Malaysia
11. British Rohingya Community UK
12. Burma Campaign UK
13. Burma Human Rights Network
14. Burma War Crimes Investigation
15. Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK
16. Chin Human Rights Organization
17. Coalition for the Rights of Refugees and Stateless Persons
18. Anonymous Rohingya Organization
19. Community Rebuilding Center
20. Comrades of Rohingya Youths
21. Counter Foto
22. Education and Wisdom Development for Rohingya Women
23. Education Garden for Rohingya
24. European Rohingya Council
25. Fortify Rights
26. Free Rohingya Coalition
27. Future of Rohingya
28. Geutanyoe Malaysia
29. Human Rights Foundation of Monland
30. Human Rights Watch
31. Kachin Human Rights Watch
32. Kachin Women’s Association – Thailand
33. Kaladan Press Network
34. Karen Human Rights Group
35. Karenni Human Rights Group
36. Mayu Region Human Rights Documentation Center
37. Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization in Malaysia
38. Next Gen Rohingya Network
39. Odhikar
40. Refugees International
41. Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
42. Rohingya Advancement Committee
43. Rohingya Human Rights Initiative
44. Rohingya Inspiration Network
45. Rohingya Peace Network of Thailand
46. Rohingya Progressive Network
47. Rohingya Right Advocacy Network
48. Rohingya Student League
49. Rohingya Student Network
50. Rohingya Student Union
51. Rohingya Women Association for Education and Development
52. Rohingya Youth Empowerment Network
53. RW Welfare Society
54. Thailand Migration Reform
55. Women’s Peace Network
56. Youth Action for Myanmar
57. Youth Congress Rohingya
58. Youth Led Initiative
