UN Special Rapporteur Raises Concerns over Rohingya Refugee Repatriation Plans

16-06-2023.

Alexandra Posta

East and South Asia Human Rights Researcher,

Global Human Rights Defense.

Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar expressed his concerns regarding the return of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar (UN, 8 June 2023, OHCHR, 8 June 2023). In recent reports by the GHRD, it was highlighted that the governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar collaborated on a pilot program to relocate Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar (GHRD, 31 May 2023). However, as per human rights experts and the United Nations, this situation could potentially lead to another devastating exodus in the future, raising serious concerns about the well-being and human rights of the Rohingya community (GHRD, 31 May 2023; UN, 8 June 2023, OHCHR, 8 June 2023).

Special Rapporteur Andrews' statement reveals that Bangladesh officials have been planning to send back an initial group of 1,140 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, potentially very soon, using a combination of threats and financial rewards (UN, 8 June 2023). However, Special Rapporteur Andrews has disclosed the unideal conditions that the returned Rohingya refugees are to face, which “are anything but conducive for the safe, dignified, sustainable, and voluntary return of Rohingya refugees” (OHCHR, 8 June 2023).

Special Rapporteur Andrews has also emphasised that the very generals who had orchestrated "genocidal" attacks against the Rohingya, resulting in the displacement of hundreds of thousands, are currently in power and are reportedly "attacking civilian populations while denying the Rohingya citizenship and other basic rights" (OHCHR, 8 June 2023).

In light of these developments, Special Rapporteur Andrews has called upon the international community to support the Rohingya refugees, both in words and actions (UN, 8 June 2023). He highlighted the urgent need for providing a humane level of support to the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh who are currently unable to pursue livelihoods, face hunger and malnutrition, and have limited educational opportunities for their children (UN, 8 June 2023). As the situation unfolds, it is crucial for the international community to remain engaged and address the pressing human rights concerns faced by the Rohingya community.

Sources and further readings: 

United Nations. (8 June 2023). Bangladesh must suspend plans to return Rohingya refugees to Myanmar: Rights expert. UN News. Available at <https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/06/1137457>

United Nations. (8 June 2023). Bangladesh must suspend pilot project to return Rohingya refugees to Myanmar: UN expert. OHCHR. Available at <https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/06/bangladesh-must-suspend-pilot-project-return-rohingya-refugees-myanmar-un>

GHRD. (31 May 2023). Return of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar raises new risks. GHRD. Available at <https://ghrtv.org/return-of-rohingya-refugees-from-bangladesh-to-myanmar-raises-new-risks>