After Guterres’ Visit: Reimagining Global Commitments to the Rohingya Crisis -
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
9 April 2025 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Bismillahir rahmanir rahim.
Distinguished guests, esteemed colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh and a very good Evening.
It is both an honour and a grave responsibility to address this distinguished assembly as we gather to reflect upon a humanitarian crisis that continues to challenge the collective conscience of the international community. The plight of the Rohingya people remains one of the most compelling and tragic illustrations of modern displacement, persecution, and international inertia.
We convene in the wake of the recent visit by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to Bangladesh—a visit that, while symbolically significant, must now translate into substantive action. His presence in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar reminded the world of the urgency and magnitude of the crisis, and it is incumbent upon us to seize this moment to reconsider and reframe our global commitments.
1. The Significance of Guterres’ Visit
Secretary-General Guterres’ 2025 visit to Bangladesh has served to re-centre international attention on the Rohingya issue. However, it is imperative to distinguish between symbolic solidarity and practical commitment.
While diplomatic visits convey moral support, their true value lies in the momentum they create for actionable policies. The visit has offered an opportunity to galvanise renewed engagement, but it must not end in rhetoric alone. The United Nations must now lead with resolve, ensuring that refugee protection transcends discourse and becomes embedded in institutional and intergovernmental agendas.
2. Historical Context: The Roots of the Rohingya Crisis
The origins of this crisis are neither recent nor obscure. Since 2017, the Rohingya community has faced systematic violence, widely described by legal and human rights experts as ethnic cleansing and even genocide. Villages in Rakhine State have been decimated; thousands have perished; and countless others have fled, seeking refuge across borders.
This is the legacy of a protracted campaign of statelessness, persecution, and exclusion. Myanmar’s denial of citizenship, restriction of movement, and institutionalised discrimination have rendered the Rohingya among the most vulnerable and marginalised populations in the world.
3. Evaluating Global Commitments to Date
The international response, while visible in certain quarters, has fallen short of the expectations set by global human rights frameworks. Humanitarian assistance, UN resolutions, and pledges have undoubtedly provided short-term relief, but they have not altered the structural dynamics of the crisis.
Donor fatigue is now evident. Funding shortfalls continue to compromise essential services in refugee camps. Moreover, the absence of effective enforcement mechanisms means that Myanmar faces negligible pressure to reform. The situation reflects a troubling disparity between normative commitments and political will.
4. The Burden on Bangladesh
We must acknowledge the extraordinary generosity and resilience demonstrated by the Government and people of Bangladesh. Hosting close to one million refugees in Cox’s Bazar has exacted a heavy toll on the country’s economy, society, and environment.
Yet, despite its sacrifices, Bangladesh’s diplomatic efforts for burden-sharing and sustainable repatriation have largely been met with tepid responses. It is no longer tenable for a single nation to bear such disproportionate responsibility for what is fundamentally a global crisis.
5. Reimagining Global Responsibility
In light of these realities, a reimagining of the global response is both necessary and urgent. The international community must transition from an aid-based model to a rights-based framework that recognises the Rohingya not as passive recipients of charity, but as rightful bearers of citizenship, dignity, and agency.
This reimagined approach must include:
· The establishment of credible and safe resettlement mechanisms for those unable to return;
· The meaningful inclusion of Rohingya voices in peace negotiations and policy formation;
· Enhanced regional collaboration, particularly through platforms such as ASEAN and BIMSTEC, to forge unified strategies for resolution and reintegration.
6. Repatriation: Conditions for a Dignified Return
At the recent 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, diplomatic discussions between Bangladesh and Myanmar yielded a tentative agreement on the eligibility of 180,000 Rohingya for repatriation, with further assessments pending.
While such developments may appear promising, history urges caution. Previous repatriation attempts, notably in 2018 and 2019, were undermined by insecurity, lack of legal guarantees, and fear of renewed persecution.
Repatriation must be safe, voluntary, and dignified, predicated on full recognition of citizenship rights, freedom of movement, and legal protection. Any initiative that compromises these principles risks perpetuating the cycle of displacement and trauma.
7. Justice and Accountability: Addressing Atrocities
No sustainable solution can be achieved without justice. The atrocities committed against the Rohingya demand accountability at both national and international levels.
Myanmar’s military leadership must face due process at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ). Transitional justice mechanisms, including truth-telling, reparations, and institutional reform, are indispensable to healing and reconciliation.
Furthermore, establishing precedent in holding perpetrators accountable is essential—not only for the Rohingya but for global human rights enforcement more broadly.
8. Conclusion: A Test of Global Conscience
In conclusion, the Rohingya crisis stands as a defining moral and political test of our time. It challenges us to consider whether we, as a global community, are prepared to translate our values into action—or whether we will allow impunity, statelessness, and displacement to define the contours of international order.
We must act not merely out of charity, but out of a commitment to justice, human dignity, and shared responsibility.
The Rohingya are not merely victims of a distant conflict—they are a reflection of our collective failure, or our potential to uphold a truly humane international system.
Let us resolve, here in Kuala Lumpur, not to defer justice any longer. The time for transformative, principled action is now.
Thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
