Rohingya: Statelessness and Displacement
The Rohingya people, an ethnic minority group from Myanmar, have faced decades of systematic persecution and violence. Despite being native to Rakhine State, they were denied citizenship in 1982, effectively rendering them stateless in their own homeland. Since then, they have been subject to brutal discrimination, human rights violations, and marginalization by the Myanmar government.
In August 2017, the situation escalated to a crisis when the Myanmar military launched a violent crackdown against the Rohingya, causing over 700,000 people to flee their homes in search of safety. Many sought refuge in Bangladesh, where they now reside in the world’s largest refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. In addition to facing a life of displacement, Rohingyas are denied basic rights such as access to education, healthcare, and employment, further deepening their sense of loss and displacement.
For the Rohingya, statelessness means more than just not having a nationality; it means the erasure of their identity, their history, and their future. Their children grow up without the hope of citizenship, and their community remains torn between survival and the constant uncertainty of their fate.
At Right to Belong, we are committed to shining a light on the Rohingya crisis. Our work empowers Rohingya communities across the world, amplifying their voices, advocating for their rights, and pushing for justice and equality. We believe the Rohingya deserve not just survival but the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity, security, and a sense of belonging.
Our Executive team consists of members from the Rohingya community. We appreciate their learned and lived expertise of statelessness and refugee life.
The Rohingya Genocide: A Timeline of Atrocities and Ongoing Struggle
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1948: Myanmar gains independence. The Rohingya are recognised as an indigenous ethnic group.
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1962: Military coup leads to increasing marginalisation of the Rohingya.
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1982: Myanmar’s Citizenship Law strips the Rohingya of citizenship, rendering them stateless and denying basic rights such as education, healthcare, and legal protection.
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1991-1992: Over 250,000 Rohingya flee to Bangladesh due to military violence and forced displacement.
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2001-2003: Reports of arbitrary arrests, torture, rape, and forced labour emerge as Rohingya face increasing persecution.
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August 2017: The Rohingya genocide begins in full force. The Myanmar military, also known as the Tatmadaw, launches a brutal crackdown in response to attacks by a small group of Rohingya militants, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). However, the military’s response is vastly disproportionate and targets the entire Rohingya population, leading to horrific violence and mass displacement.
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Systematic Mass Killings: The Myanmar military systematically massacres thousands of Rohingya civilians, targeting men, women, and children. Entire villages are burned to the ground. Witness testimonies and satellite images show that over 350 villages are destroyed by fire, leaving entire communities in ruin. Many of the victims are killed in cold blood during raids, often in front of their families, with bodies discarded or left in mass graves.
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Rape and Sexual Violence: There are widespread reports of sexual violence used as a weapon of war. Thousands of Rohingya women are subjected to rape, gang rape, and other forms of sexual assault by Myanmar’s military forces. Victims are often murdered after assault, and many survivors are left with lifelong trauma, stigma, and physical injuries.
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Torture and Brutality: Survivors describe horrific acts of torture, including beheadings, burning of bodies, and forced amputations. Children are targeted, with reports of infanticide and forced separation from their families. In addition to physical violence, psychological terror is used to further break the spirit of the Rohingya people, creating a climate of fear and uncertainty.
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Ethnic Cleansing: The military’s actions fit the international legal definition of ethnic cleansing, which involves the systematic removal of an ethnic group from a particular region through violence and persecution. The Rohingya, a minority group with deep historical ties to Myanmar’s Rakhine State, are expelled from their homeland and denied the right to return, effectively erasing their presence from the region.
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Over 700,000 Rohingya Displaced: Between August and October 2017, over 700,000 Rohingya flee Myanmar for neighbouring Bangladesh. They face dangerous conditions as they cross into Cox’s Bazar, where they join over 300,000 existing refugees, making it the world’s largest refugee settlement. Many of the refugees endure horrific conditions on the journey, including starvation, dehydration, and violence from human traffickers.
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International Outrage and Legal Action: The scale of the violence sparks international outrage. The United Nations decries the actions as genocidal, with the UN Human Rights Council and various human rights organisations calling for accountability. In 2018, the International Criminal Court (ICC) opens investigations into the alleged crimes, and The International Court of Justice (ICJ) launches a case against Myanmar for violating the Genocide Convention. The court proceedings are slow, with Myanmar continuing to deny the accusations and refuse accountability for its actions.
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Mass Graves and Ongoing Investigation: In 2018-2019, reports emerge of mass graves containing the bodies of victims of the genocide. The UN and independent investigators uncover evidence of widespread mass killings, forced displacement, and sexual violence, while Myanmar’s government continues to deny the genocide. Human rights organisations push for further investigations and justice for the victims, but Myanmar remains resistant to international pressure.
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2018: The Rohingya face severe humanitarian conditions in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar, living in overcrowded refugee camps.
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International efforts continue to advocate for justice and repatriation, with Myanmar refusing to allow safe return. The Rohingya remain stateless, fighting for recognition, dignity, and the right to return to their homeland.
Our Work with the Rohingya Community
At Right to Belong, we work alongside the Rohingya community in several key areas to help address their immediate needs and push for long-term change. Our efforts focus on:
1. Capacity Building in Refugee Camps
We run educational programs and leadership development initiatives within refugee camps, particularly in Bangladesh, to empower Rohingya youth and adults. These programs help develop critical life skills, raise awareness of statelessness, and prepare the next generation to advocate for their rights. We believe that by empowering individuals with knowledge, they can begin to take control of their future.
2. International Advocacy
Through our international advocacy programs, we work with global organizations and policymakers to raise awareness about the Rohingya crisis and push for solutions that address statelessness. Our work includes lobbying for policy reforms, supporting legal efforts to hold Myanmar accountable for its actions, and advocating for stronger protection measures for Rohingya refugees worldwide.
3. Rohingya Culture Preservation
We recognize that despite their statelessness, the Rohingya are a people with a rich and diverse cultural heritage. We work to preserve and promote Rohingya culture through educational initiatives, cultural events, and community-based activities. By doing so, we aim to help the Rohingya maintain their identity and cultural pride while facing adversity.
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