EU Statement - UNHCR 92nd Standing Committee - Agenda Item 3 v. Regional updates: Asia and the Pacific

UNHCR 92nd Standing Committee

11-13 March 2025

Agenda item 3 v. Regional updates: Asia and the Pacific

Statement by the EU and its Member States

Chair,

I am honored to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The EU and its Member States are deeply concerned about Afghanistan, where the population continues to face both a severe humanitarian and human rights crisis, with devastating consequences, particularly for women and girls. As Team Europe, we are responding by providing humanitarian funding to UNHCR in support of refugees and displaced persons in Afghanistan and in neighboring countries, notably Pakistan and Iran. We condemn the systemic, deliberate and systematic character of the Taliban’s oppression of women, girls and persons in marginalized or vulnerable situations. We call for the full and equal enjoyment of their human rights, their empowerment, participation, and leadership in all spheres of society as well as for their protection from all forms of violence, in accordance with international obligations. We appreciate UNHCR’s response to the most pressing humanitarian needs of Afghan returnees by the provision of protection and basic needs services, lifesaving and life-sustaining assistance – including resilience-building efforts and legal documentation. We further call on UNHCR to continue to advocate for and ensure an inclusive humanitarian response. Collaborative efforts to uphold international standards are very much needed, including on durable solutions We are committed to a comprehensive regional response through the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR), its Support Platform, and our regional Team Europe Initiative. The evolving situation in Afghanistan calls for continued assessment on the ground, noting the further improvement of the security situation, and taking into account individual situation of returnees when evaluating possible risks. 

Neighbouring countries and especially Iran and Pakistan continue to generously host millions of forcibly displaced Afghans, despite difficult economic conditions. We commend refugees’ access to education, health, and livelihood, and encourage broader access to protection, registration, and documentation. We underline the importance to screen, verify, and register Afghans and all those who are entitled to international protection. We support efforts to provide Afghans with a sense of security and predictability, notably through the extension of relevant identity documents. We encourage UNHCR to continue advocating against deportations of undocumented Afghans from Pakistan and Iran recalling that the principle of non-refoulement is essential.

Four years after the military coup in Myanmar, the humanitarian and human rights situation continues to deteriorate. The reports of violations of international law targeting Rohingya, in addition to the military’s history of stoking intercommunal tensions in Rakhine State and elsewhere across the country, underscore the grave dangers to civilians, including women, children and persons belonging to minorities. Since 2021, the number of people in need of urgent assistance has increased dramatically and many have fled to neighboring countries. The military regime continues to restrict humanitarian access and aid delivery, with other non-State armed groups also trying to influence the work of independent humanitarian organisations. We urge all parties to respect and ensure respect for International Humanitarian Law, including the protection of civilians, as well as International Human Rights Law. We reiterate our call on the military to immediately stop the hostilities and the indiscriminate use of force, and to ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access. We support ASEAN’s and the UN´s efforts to find a peaceful solution in line with the UN Security Council’s Resolution 2669. We encourage UNHCR to continue engaging with host countries, ASEAN and other regional actors, including to promote cross-border assistance. We further reiterate our call for increased international preventive action, in order to prevent further violations of International Humanitarian Law and human rights abuses. We also urge UNHCR and other UN agencies to advocate for a sustainable solution to the issue of the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar. 

In Bangladesh, we recognise the continuing endeavors of the Government and UNHCR’s challenging tasks related to the Rohingya refugee response, in a context of increased insecurity and funding uncertainty. The importance of robust protection safeguards and security measures to protect civilians and humanitarian workers in the camps cannot be emphasized enough. Appropriate monitoring mechanisms and dedicated resources are needed, in parallel to effective cooperation with national authorities to uphold the civilian nature of the camps and ensure accountability for criminal acts. We reiterate our support to the Joint Response Plan and offer to accompany new advocacy initiatives aimed at preparing Rohingya refugees for self-sufficiency by increasing access to skills, education, and livelihood opportunities – in line with pledges announced at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum. 

Regarding the alarming surge of Rohingya deaths or missing persons, mostly women and children, in the waters of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, the EU and its Member States deplore this tragic loss of lives. We support UNHCR’s call for prevention measures, including on the need to conduct search and rescue operations, and find a regional solution for their safe disembarkation. We welcome UNHCR’s efforts to register all asylum-seekers and refugees, who may be in need of protection, including the many having been forced to flee the conflict in Myanmar to India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka. We encourage access to basic services and self-reliance. We also commend UNHCR’s initiatives to counter false narratives and hate speech against refugees and asylum-seekers. 

Finally, with regards to UNHCR’s deep regret over reports of the deportation of the group of about 40 Uyghurs, the EU and its Member States reaffirm the importance of the principle of non-refoulement that must be respected in all circumstances. 

Thank you.