High-level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar
Statement delivered by H.E. Ms Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, Permanent Representative of Latvia to the UN, on behalf of the Baltic States – Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania
30 September 2025, New York
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 constructive efforts of ASEAN in supporting a peaceful resolution that serves the interests of the people of Myanmar.
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. Most disturbing are reports of civilians being burned alive.
Natural disasters have compounded the suffering. Typhoon Yagi in September 2024 caused deadly floods and mass displacement. The earthquake in March 2025 killed thousands and destroyed homes and livelihoods. Even in these disaster-stricken areas, airstrikes and heavy weapons continued to be used.
International law demands adherence to the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution. It requires that hospitals, schools, and places of worship remain operational and protected. It calls for concrete measures to mitigate harm to civilians, including casualty tracking and credible investigations when harm occurs. It also mandates full, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access—reliable deconfliction for convoys and medical teams, authorization of cross-border and cross-line assistance wherever needs exist, and the lifting of communications blackouts that hinder coordination. These are not suggestions—they are obligations.
To break the cycle of violations, 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 pursuing justice and accountability.
Second, 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. Women from all sections of society should be represented. Nothing about peace should be decided without women in the room.
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 peace and security process.
If the violence stops and humanitarian access is granted, food pipelines 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.