Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Persecution of the Rohingya: International Response

13 October 2022 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Rushanara Ali Lab Bethnal Green and Stepney

Foreign Affairs

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Rushanara Ali raised concerns about persecution of the rohingya: international response in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Stepney, raised concerns about the ongoing persecution of Rohingya people in Myanmar, marking five years since mass displacement.
  • The MP welcomed new sanctions against companies supporting Myanmar's dictatorship but criticised the reduction in aid to Rohingya refugees and internally displaced camps.
  • The Minister of State, Leo Docherty, acknowledged the severe suffering caused by Myanmar's military and highlighted over 49 million in assistance provided since the crisis began.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Rushanara Ali Lab Bethnal Green and Stepney

Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Stepney, raised concerns about the ongoing genocide against Rohingya people in Myanmar. She highlighted the five-year anniversary of mass displacement and atrocities committed by Burmese military forces. The MP expressed gratitude towards colleagues and international organisations working on this issue but lamented Britain’s delayed intervention at the International Court of Justice despite its UN Security Council responsibility. She welcomed new sanctions announced by the UK Government against companies supporting Myanmar's dictatorship, including Star Sapphire Group, International Gateways Group, and Sky One Construction Company. However, she criticised the reduction in aid to Rohingya refugees and internally displaced camps since 2017, advocating for increased funding support to Bangladesh and Myanmar. Ali also emphasised the importance of education provision for Rohingya children and teenagers who face significant barriers due to conflicts.

Other contributors (1)
  • Leo Docherty Con Nottingham East

    Expressed gratitude towards Rushanara Ali for raising this issue and acknowledged her long-standing interest in the matter. He commended the work of all-party groups and colleagues who have pushed for active policy responses.

Government Response

Leo Docherty

The Minister of State, Leo Docherty, acknowledged the severe suffering caused by Myanmar’s military since their coup. He highlighted that over £49 million in assistance has been provided for humanitarian needs, healthcare, education and civil society support to address the crisis. Since 2017, the UK Government has committed £340 million to aid Rohingya communities and neighbouring regions in Bangladesh. The Minister emphasised ongoing work with international partners to tighten sanctions targeting finance and arms access for Myanmar’s military regime. Docherty reaffirmed the commitment to increase humanitarian support back to 0.7% of GNI when fiscal constraints allow. He announced further sanctions on companies linked to the Myanmar army and expressed support for interventions at the International Court of Justice case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar, believing it offers a path towards accountability for atrocities. The Minister stated that restoring Rohingya citizenship in Myanmar remains crucial but requires political solutions beyond humanitarian aid.

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