Statement by Latvia, delivered by Mr Oļegs Iļģis, Deputy Permanent Representative of Latvia to the UN, on behalf of the Baltic States - Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania – at the High-Level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar
New York, 30 September 2025
Madam President, Excellencies, Delegates,
I speak on behalf of the Baltic States—Estonia, Lithuania, and my own country, Latvia. We welcome the convening of this conference. It is both timely and necessary to renew international attention to the suffering endured by the Rohingya and other minorities as a result of the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.
At the outset, I wish to acknowledge and commend the generosity of Bangladesh for hosting over one million Rohingya refugees, as well as the efforts of ASEAN and regional partners to achieve a durable outcome to the Rohingya crisis.
Madam President,
Our aim is clear: the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes. Achieving this goal requires an end to violence, addressing the root causes of the conflict, and rebuilding trust among communities. These are long-term undertakings. Repairing institutions, reversing discriminatory policies, and reintegrating displaced populations cannot happen overnight. Yet there are actions that not only can—but must—be taken immediately.
First, compliance with international law. Credible reports indicate widespread violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed against civilians. These include arbitrary arrests of political opponents; abduction and forced recruitment of children; indiscriminate aerial bombardments by the Myanmar military that kill and injure civilians and destroy infrastructure; sexual and gender-based violence; the burning of homes; attacks on humanitarian workers and facilities; and restrictions on humanitarian access imposed by both the military regime and various armed groups.
Natural disasters have deepened the crisis. In the past year, a powerful typhoon triggered floods and forced displacement, while a major earthquake claimed thousands of lives and shattered communities. Despite the destruction, conflict persisted — airstrikes continued even in the hardest-hit regions.
Madam President,
In the face of ongoing conflict, it must be underlined that international humanitarian law demands adherence to the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution. It requires that hospitals, schools, and places of worship are not targeted. It calls for concrete measures to mitigate harm to civilians. It also mandates full, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access. These are not suggestions—they are obligations.
To uphold these obligations, accountability must be ensured. We commend the work of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, the International Criminal Court, and the International Court of Justice in advancing justice and accountability.
The second immediate action is the inclusion of women in building sustainable peace. Women and girls have suffered immensely in this conflict, as they do in all conflicts. Yet they are also powerful agents of change. The Women, Peace and Security agenda is clear: political processes must include women fully, equally, and meaningfully. This is how ceasefires hold. This is how communities heal. This is how peace endures. We call for women’s leadership in all negotiations, across all tracks—from local mediation to national dialogue, from humanitarian planning to security sector reform.
Madam President,
Let me conclude by emphasizing that these priorities align with the decisions of the Security Council, which has called for an immediate end to violence, full and unhindered humanitarian access, the protection of civilians under international humanitarian law, and the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in the peace and security process.
If the violence stops and humanitarian access is granted, food supply chains can stabilize, health services can resume, and children can return to learning. These are the foundational conditions for achieving our shared goal: the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes.
Thank you.