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Australia urges Myanmar to take action on HR violations in Rakhine

Australia repeated their call for justice for those who have suffered


August 28, 2018 00:00:00


Australia has urged Myanmar to take action on human rights violations and welcomed the establishment of Myanmar's Commission of Enquiry, which needs to be provided with authority to respond comprehensively to abuses, reports UNB.

"We encourage Myanmar to engage with the findings of the UN Fact Finding Mission and any other evidence of abuses," the Australian government said in a statement on Monday.

Australia repeated their call for justice for those who have suffered. "Perpetrators must be held to account. This is why Australia has supported the UN Fact Finding Mission and its independent investigation. We will respond to its final report when presented at the Human Rights Council in September," the statement reads.

Myanmar has taken an important first step in agreeing to work with the UNDP and UNHCR, through an MOU to create conditions in Rakhine State conducive to repatriation.

Australia called on Myanmar to allow UN agencies the full access they need to implement this effectively.

"Let us also honour late Kofi Annan by renewing our efforts to implement the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State which he led," the statement shared by Australian High Commission in Dhaka reads.

"The resulting Rohingya crisis is our region's largest humanitarian emergency - with over 900,000 displaced Rohingya in need in Cox's Bazar and more than 530,000 remaining in Rakhine State in Myanmar," said the Australian government.

Many are women and children, who are survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, have lost family members and have no means to support their most basic human needs without international assistance.

"We commend the Government of Bangladesh for its generous response to the crisis and for hosting such a large displaced population," said the statement.

Australia is focused on the plight of the Rohingya and affected communities in Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Our $70 million of humanitarian assistance provides emergency supplies to Rakhine State and food, shelter, clean water and essential health services to Cox's Bazar.


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