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Skip to 0 minutes and 42 secondsIn Myanmar, Rohingya are referred to as Muslim Bengalis and are thought of as illegal migrants. They've been systematically excluded from society in Myanmar for many decades. They're not one of the 135 formerly recognised ethnic groups in Myanmar, which has meant that they have got very limited rights in the country. They can't access citizenship. They have very limited freedom of movement. They're unable to get birth certificates, for example. Access to education and health services is very limited. And employment rights are significantly restricted. There are accounts of Rohingya being used as forced labour. And they're often subject to extreme violence. So this intergenerational exclusion and persecution based on their ethnicity has forced many Rohingya to seek refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh, in particular.


Skip to 2 minutes and 12 secondsWell, there are several really important frames of reference that we need to apply to Rohingya. The exclusions by Myanmar mean that Rohingya living there are stateless, in effect. And UNHCR figures indicate that they are the largest stateless group living in a single country in the world. There's also been a significant increase in anti-Rohingya violence in Myanmar since 2012. And the Myanmar government has been unwilling to protect Rohingya, arguing that they are in the country illegally. In 2012, for example, following riots in Rakhine province, Myanmar's President Thein Sein suggested that UNHCR step in and resettle the entire Rohingya population.


Skip to 3 minutes and 27 secondsWell, sometimes, as we know, it's very difficult to know the detail of the geopolitical context and the issues that are facing multiple countries and the international organisations that are affected. But there are some signs as to the challenges that the international community faces. Firstly, most people realise that origin countries must be called to account and must provide protection to their populations. Of course, this is a core principle of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And considerable international diplomatic pressure on Myanmar needs to continue, first and foremost. At the same time, there's recognition that Myanmar's ongoing transition to democracy is fragile. And it definitely needs to be supported.

Skip to 4 minutes and 10 secondsI think, secondly, the large size of the Rohingya population and the potential for large-scale displacement is a really serious concern. In May last year, around 7,000 Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants were stranded at sea when smugglers abandoned their vessels. Indonesia and Malaysia issued a statement saying they would provide temporary assistance. But they wouldn't allow Rohingya to stay. Australia declared that it wouldn't resettle any Rohingya. And the largest refugee resettlement country in the world, the United States, indicated that resettlement was not a sustainable solution and that Myanmar should recognise Rohingya as citizens. So in terms of improving the lives of Rohingya, I can see that there are lots of opportunities on many fronts.


Rohingya refugees

Interview with Marie McAuliffe, International Organization for Migration, Switzerland

We asked Marie the following questions:

Question no.1: Who are the Rohingya?


Question no.3: How can their condition be improved?

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Why Do People Migrate? Facts

European University Institute (EUI)

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