RHPW 2025 calls for stronger support, political solutions for the Rohingya
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Civil society leaders and humanitarian experts from across the Asia-Pacific have urged stronger global support for Rohingya refugees and renewed political efforts to ensure their safe, dignified, and voluntary repatriation to Myanmar.
The call came on Tuesday during an international seminar organised by COAST Foundation and the Cox’s Bazar CSO-NGO Forum (CCNF) at the Asia-Pacific Regional Humanitarian Partnership Week (RHPW) 2025 in Bangkok, said a press release.
The week-long event is being hosted by ADRRN, CWSA, ICVA and UN OCHA.
The seminar, titled “Facilitating Rohingya Refugee and Citizenship Rights,” was held in a hybrid format with over 100 participants from the region and beyond. Md. Iqbal Uddin, Joint Director of COAST Foundation, presented the keynote and moderated the session.
Speakers included Debbie Stothard of ALTSEAN-Burma; Hafsar Tamizuddin of APRRN; Marko Miljevic and Amir Hossain from the NGO Platform in Cox’s Bazar; Khair Ullah of the Resilient Refugee Alliance; Takashi Komino of ADRRN; Sanjiv Bhanja of Tearfund Asia; Helal Uddin of Agrajatra Bangladesh; and Yesmin Ullah of the Rohingya Maiyafuinor Collaborative Network in Canada.
In his keynote, Md. Iqbal Uddin said Myanmar unlawfully revoked Rohingya citizenship in 1982 and stressed that reinstating their citizenship requires political commitment and shared responsibility.
He urged humanitarian actors to strengthen support for Rohingya refugees, including access to higher education, income opportunities, bank accounts, travel passes, and improved shelters.
Other speakers emphasised the urgent need for regional and global political action to hold the Myanmar junta accountable.
They warned of rising negative narratives against Rohingya communities and highlighted a decline in advocacy efforts.
Speakers also stressed that Rohingya rights are a global responsibility.
Without coordinated political action and sustained humanitarian commitment, they said, repatriation and restoration of full citizenship will remain out of reach.
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