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Solution to Rohingya crisis: UNSC can't avoid responsibility, says Bangladesh

Permanent Representative (PR) of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Masud Bin Momen recently speaks at the Open Debate of the Security Council on ‘Sexual Violence in Conflict’ at the UN headquarters in New York, US. Photo: Courtesy
Permanent Representative (PR) of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Masud Bin Momen recently speaks at the Open Debate of the Security Council on ‘Sexual Violence in Conflict’ at the UN headquarters in New York, US. Photo: Courtesy

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Bangladesh has said the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, cannot avoid its responsibility to ensure a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis through voluntary, safe and dignified return of the refugees to their place of origin, and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Permanent Representative (PR) of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Masud Bin Momen recently raised the issue at the Open Debate of the Security Council on ‘Sexual Violence in Conflict’ at the UN headquarters, said the Bangladesh Mission on Friday.

Mentioning that the culture of impunity as experienced by the world in the case of Rohingya crisis-related sexual violence in Myanmar, he said without bringing an end to it, justice cannot be done.

In such cases, the Ambassador said,  ensuring accountability and justice is a must to create confidence and incentivise repatriation which they do not see happening.

In this context, Ambassador Masud asked the Council, “Would you expect these Rohingyas, particularly the women and girls who have been subject to unspeakable sexual violence, to be willing to return without any guarantee that the same fate would not befall upon them?”.

He recalled the horrific experience during Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971 when the women of Bangladesh had gone through widespread and systematic sexual violence and abuse as a tactic of war.

He said, “That has come back with the Rohingya humanitarian crisis. According to ‘Save the Children’, in 2018 alone, an estimated 4,000 Rohingya babies were born in the camps, many of whom are unwanted even by their mothers, as we can all imagine why? Their recognition, compensation, and ensuring for them a better future in their country of origin is something the international community should take a hard look at.”

Highlighting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, he said that Bangladesh as a top troops/police-contributing country also ensures awareness raising and pre-deployment training for all of its peacekeepers.

"We've also implemented guidelines by our Supreme Court by establishing women-only committees in workplaces to hear complaints against discrimination and sexual violence against women and girls. Our authorities are going ahead with the National Plan of Action on women, peace and security with the help of UN Women.”

Ambassador Masud also enumerated Bangladesh’s initiatives to prevent sexual violence such as strengthening national laws and investigation mechanisms, providing protection to victims, ensuring victims’ rights for sexual and reproductive healthcare and reparation and capacity building at local and national levels, according to UNB news agency.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten, Nobel Peace Prize Laureates in 2018 Dr Denis Mukwege Mukengere and Nadia Murad and Barrister Amal Clooney spoke at this high-level open debate.

Convened by Germany, the President of the Security Council for the month of April, the open debate focused on the importance of accountability, and addressed survivor-centred approaches to addressing sexual violence in conflict settings.

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