A high-level conference on the human rights situation of the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities in Myanmar is set to take place today (Tuesday, September 30) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Organized under the UN General Assembly Resolution 79/278, the event will bring together representatives from UN member states, international human rights organizations, donor agencies, legal experts, and development partners.
Four Rohingya representatives, known for their advocacy on rights, security, and education for their community, will address the conference as key speakers.
They are Lucky Karim, Executive Director of Women’s Rights Network; Wai Wai Nu, founder of the Women Peace Network; Jarni Swe, a young journalist and human rights activist; and Sayedullah, a student at New York University and founder of the Rohingya Student Network (RSN).
After completing higher education, Lucky Karim has been working tirelessly for the rights of Rohingya refugee women. Through her organization Refugee Women for Peace and Justice, she promotes women’s leadership, combats child marriage, and works to prevent gender-based violence in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar. In 2023, she testified before the U.S. Congress’s Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, emphasizing the urgent need for education among Rohingya refugees.
Wai Wai Nu, who was born in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, was imprisoned at a young age due to her family’s political background. Following her release, she established the Women Peace Network, an organization dedicated to empowering women and fostering peace and social harmony in Myanmar.
Jarni Swe, a journalist and rights activist, has been actively highlighting the persecution of Rohingyas on international platforms. She has worked closely with the U.S. administration, Congress, and various international organizations to promote the causes of security, fundamental rights, and peaceful coexistence for Rohingya.
Having fled to Bangladesh during the 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar, Sayedullah is now pursuing higher education at New York University. He founded the Rohingya Student Network (RSN), which encourages Rohingya youth to pursue education and leadership. In 2023, he received international recognition at the Young Activists Summit.
Ahead of the conference, a symbolic gathering titled “Our Future, Our Voice” was held on September 27 at Rohingya Camp 13 in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. Participants demanded justice and safe repatriation, declaring, “Now is the time for a sustainable and dignified solution for the Rohingya people.”
In his address at the UN General Assembly, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus reaffirmed Bangladesh’s readiness to participate in any joint international effort aimed at restoring peace and stability in Rakhine State.
He also brought attention to the upcoming conference, saying, “This platform can help build global consensus and commitment toward a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis.”
According to analysts, the event could serve as a crucial milestone in strengthening international advocacy and amplifying the Rohingya community’s voice at the global stage.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Courtesy
