Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) — a member of both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee — issued the following statement on the second anniversary of the Rohingya genocide determination and called on the U.S. to play a greater leadership role in delivering accountability, justice, and safety for Rohingya:
“Two years since the United States’ historic determination recognizing the atrocities committed against Rohingya as genocide and crimes against humanity, Rohingya remain in danger both in Burma and among refugee populations in Bangladesh and elsewhere. The determination recognized the grave injustices faced by Rohingya and underscored the need for a concerted effort to safeguard their rights and dignity. While the U.S. remains the largest contributor of humanitarian assistance for Rohingya, the reduction in U.S. government funding in the aftermath of the determination stands in stark contrast to the gravity of the determination and the leadership role America plays when it comes to human rights and atrocity prevention.
“To address the growing challenges faced by Rohingya, Ranking Member Meeks and Senator Merkley will introduce legislation in the coming weeks to bolster support for Rohingya and provide a pathway out of genocide. This legislation will address critical gaps in humanitarian assistance, protection, and accountability, and reprioritize genocide response as the crisis in Burma continues.”
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