EU at UN: “No Safe Return for Rohingya Without Justice and Peace”

10 May 2025 | Arakan Now

At a recent UN General Assembly briefing, the European Union issued a strong statement on the deteriorating situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar.

Speaking on behalf of the EU and its Member States, Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis expressed deep concern about renewed violence in Rakhine State, where Rohingya communities are once again being targeted.

“The plight of the Rohingya cannot be solved under the current conditions,” he stated. “A voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return is impossible without peace, democracy, and justice.”

The EU emphasized that discrimination against Rohingya must be addressed as part of any political solution. The statement also condemned ongoing human rights violations by Myanmar’s military, including airstrikes, village burnings, forced conscription, and denial of humanitarian access.

The EU issued several urgent calls:

End military violence and persecution, including against Rohingya

Allow full humanitarian access, particularly in conflict areas like Rakhine

Hold the military accountable through international justice mechanisms such as the ICJ and ICC

Implement a global arms embargo to stop the flow of weapons to the regime

Support ASEAN-led peace efforts, while ensuring the inclusion of Rohingya voices in future dialogue

The EU reaffirmed its support for the UN Special

Envoy and stressed that real change requires international unity and action.

The statement comes ahead of a high-level UN meeting scheduled for 30 September, focused on the human rights situation of Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar.

“We must act now,” the EU concluded. “The lives and dignity of the Rohingya—and all people of Myanmar—depend on it.”