UN says world failed to protect Rohingya women

Describing the situation of Rohingya women as very bad, visiting United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlabmbo-Ngcukaon said on Saturday the world failed to protect the Rohingya women, reports UNB.

"I think the world has failed...Their [Myanmar] country has failed them in a massive way. Everybody [women] has been trying to rescue [them from] the situation because it has been a tussle. It has not been easy and possible for all those involved, including the UN system to be as effective as possible," she said.

She made the remark at a media briefing at a city hotel wrapping up her five-day visit to Bangladesh.

Stressing the need for collective responsibility to address the challenges of Rohingya women, the UN Women Executive said, "We continue to do our best. Sometimes our best is not good enough because the situation is so bad. So, this is a collective responsibility." Noting that the UN Women faces problem in conducting its operation in Myanmar, she said it is interested in assisting the Rohingya women with microcredit. "We're also interested in helping them with microcredit."

She said they came to Bangladesh to encourage the women to participate in the upcoming national election. "Because the election is coming, we're here to encourage the women to participate in the vote and encourage women leadership."

Phumzile Mlabmbo-Ngcuka expressed concern over the incorporation of provision in 'Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2017 that allows under-age marriage in exceptional cases. "It could undermine the good intention of the law as too many exceptions remain."

Country Representative of UN Women Bangladesh Shoko Ishikawa was present.