‘Second Dhaka Declaration' urges compensation from Myanmar for Rohingya-hosting countries

Financial Express
FE ONLINE REPORT
August 27, 2020

The ‘Second Dhaka Declaration' has called on the government of Myanmar to provide all the host countries as well as the Rohingya people proper monetary and legal compensation.

The document recognised the fact that Bangladesh is currently hosting over 1.2 million Rohingya refugees within its borders.
It also urged Myanmar to take responsibility for the incidents against Rohingya people and organise a transparent and accountable investigation of their displacement.

The declaration was made public on the last day of the two-day international e-conference titled "Connecting Rohingya Diaspora: Highlighting the Global Displacement" concluded late Wednesday.

SECOND DHAKA DECLARATION, 2020

Preamble:

1. We unequivocally state that since humanity was founded, it has been on the move. Over time people have moved in search of new economic opportunities and horizons, while others moved to escape armed conflict, poverty, food insecurity, persecution, terrorism, or genocide, human rights violations and abuses. These causes of forced displacement need to be addressed instead of considering the people that migrate involuntarily and become a diaspora as a problem.
2. We are aware that forced displacement and forced migration from multiple countries often present complex challenges to the international community, with the victims suffering the most and becoming members of the diaspora involuntarily. Discrimination and unequal gender and power relations particularly hurt women and girls during forced displacement and forced migration, eroding women's rights and exposing them to sexual and gender violence.
3. We reaffirm the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We also reaffirm the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recall the core international human rights treaties. We reaffirm and resolve that full protection of human rights standards be accorded to all refugees and diaspora communities, regardless of status; all of them are rights holders.
4. We resolutely restate the determination to prevent the plight of forcibly displaced populations facing widespread torture, atrocities, abuse of human rights and acts of genocide and mass violence in their respective home countries and call for the restoration, protecting, promotion and respect of human rights for all.
5. We are aware that modern technology allows the diaspora to play a significant role in telling their own stories, including the gruesome experiences they have suffered in their respective home countries. It also allows them to articulate and demand what justice and human rights mean to them.
6. We recognize that people forced to migrate have their own political, economic, social, developmental, humanitarian and human rights. These rights transcend borders and act as a transnational link between peoples' homeland and their host countries. The struggle for accountability and restoration of citizenship call for global approaches and sustainable global solutions.

We the participants of the International e-Conference on Connecting the Rohingya Diaspora: Highlighting the Global Displacement hereby: 

1. Welcome the convening of the International e-Conference on Connecting the Rohingya Diaspora: Highlighting the Global Displacement, organized by the Centre for Genocide Studies, University of Dhaka; the Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University; and ActionAid Bangladesh;
2. Recalling the promise of the Global Summit 2005, to take “timely and decisive action in accordance with the UN Charter” in situations of mass killings and mass eviction and the Global Compact for Refugees call for sustainable solutions to refugee situations through international cooperation, we demand from the world community an unequivocal commitment to resolve the Rohingya refugee crisis in a sustainable manner and with a regional approach, recognizing the fact that Bangladesh is currently hosting over 1.2 million Rohingya refugees within its borders.
3. Call upon the United Nations and all members of the international community to use diplomatic channels to provide sufficient humanitarian assistance and other support to ensure protection and rights of all Rohingya people and other vulnerable groups.
4. Recognize that the Rohingya have a right to return to their homeland. We call upon the international community to ensure their voluntary, dignified, informed and safe return to their original homes.
5. Recognize the four provisional measures on the Myanmar government as per the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar) case in January 2020 which include the government of Myanmar to prevent genocidal acts and crimes, ensure that the military and other security forces do not commit genocide, preserve evidence of genocidal acts and crimes, report back on its compliance within four months, and then every six months afterwards.
6. Denounce all sorts of latent and manifest acts of genocide against the Rohingya ethnic minority of Myanmar which forced them to leave their country and take refuge in countries of four continents of the world.
7. Condemn persecution by the state authority in Myanmar that regularly leads to the forced trafficking of a sizeable Rohingya population, as well as the exploitation and extortion associated with it; recognizing how these atrocities make millions of Rohingya women, men and children stateless in other countries.
8. Recognize the risks that the Rohingya people regularly take to avoid persecution in Myanmar and the precarious journey by boat they embark on to take refuge in neighboring countries.
9. Condemn the apathy of the government of Myanmar, regional governments and the international community towards the Rohingya people, particularly the sufferings of Rohingya women and children in open seas.
10. Urge the government of Myanmar to take responsibility for the incidents and organize a transparent and accountable investigation of Rohingya displacement, while providing all the host countries as well as the Rohingya people proper monetary and legal compensation.
11. Impress upon the allies of Myanmar, particularly ASEAN, to take necessary steps to compel Myanmar to terminate the persecution of the Rohingya people once and for all.
12. Call on governments, civil society, and multilateral agencies to create a multi-pronged participatory mechanism in order to address and bring resolution to the plight of the Rohingya by putting pressure on the government of Myanmar.
13. Call upon the Rohingya diaspora to mobilise tangible and intangible resources to support the struggle of the Rohingya, especially after the recognition from ICJ. In order to be able to play a significant role the Rohingya diaspora need to develop a strong network creating a virtual diaspora space for raising a strong voice in the international fora demanding their due rights from Myanmar. In this context, the women Rohingya diaspora can be a game changer in creating a gender sensitive Rohingya society and add to the voice of the humiliated and violated.
14. Advance a broader advocacy role by ensuring transparency, justice and accountability for safe, voluntary, informed and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya people scattered around the world, including Bangladesh, and foster support from the engaging countries on behalf of the ICJ ruling.
15. Continue the initiative that signifies the great partnership between the Rohingya diaspora and agencies working around the world for mitigating the plight of the Rohingya people.

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Link: https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/second-dhaka-declaration-urges-compensation-from-myanmar-for-rohingya-hosting-countries-1598518913