Day of Remembrance, Resilience, and Resolve: Global Coalition Honors Rohingya Genocide Victims at the United Nations
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/10/24
Osamah Siddique is a Nuclear Imaging Engineer, and human rights advocate and son of Genocide survivors who serves as a senior voice within the Rohingya advocacy movement. He is affiliated with the Arakan Rohingya Union as a head of Diplomatic, public relations and moderated the August 2025 “Day of Remembrance, Resilience, and Resolve” at the UN. Siddique brings deep experience in communicating with officials and community members. He has worked with international institutions, governments, and NGOs in areas of human rights and community-based work. Siddique earned advanced Medical Engineering certifications from OHIO State, Medical Imaging Engineering from Helsinki-Finland , Health Care Management from Cornel New York , was a Biomedical Engineering student in AUSTN, and has Participations and personal touch widely in Rohingya solutions with State Department, officials and stakeholders.
In a candid and strategic exchange moderated by Scott Douglas Jacobsen, Osamah Siddique illuminated the evolving contours of Rohingya advocacy, justice, and empowerment. The conversation opened with the importance of a global coalition clustered around the UN observance, especially emphasizing youth inclusion as a bridge between grassroots testimony and international audiences. Siddique recounted how youth, many from refugee camps or diaspora, shared personal stories of displacement, injustice, and aspiration.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Through the Arakan Rohingya Union—particularly Voices of Rohingya Youth—what was the importance of bringing this global coalition together at the Church Center for the United Nations, as well as including a youth perspective and voice? What is the importance of having that coalition and youth input as well?
Mr. Osamah Siddique: We invited the youth to participate in that event to hear from them. Most of the youth came from difficult circumstances. Some came from refugee camps. Some were born in the diaspora. Each has their own stories and challenges.
Since we are from the same community, we have gone through similar challenges. Including the youth in this event was one of our goals—to send their message directly to the international community, as we had many representatives from UN missions at that event, along with international NGOs. That was our opportunity to deliver a message from the youth directly to the international community and other stakeholders focused on the Rohingya situation.
Jacobsen: What was the advocacy brought forward regarding the role of the UN and ASEAN in ensuring safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation, as well as the full restoration of citizenship for the Rohingya?
Siddique: That was one of our main goals during this year’s involvement: repatriation with safety and dignity. We included other points in our resolution, but the main one was repatriation because there are about 1.16 million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, and many of them want to go back home—when rights and safety are guaranteed. We thank Bangladesh—the government and the people—for hosting this population for such a long period of time.
It has been a little over eight years since the 2017 exodus. UN bodies have documented evidence consistent with genocide and crimes against humanity, and the General Assembly continues to press for protection and lasting solutions.
Jacobsen: There were also Bosnian genocide survivors present. How does this shared experience—bringing together people who have gone through similar suffering but in very different contexts—help build solidarity while also showing that this is a deeply human case of suffering?
Siddique: It is not just under the banner of Rohingya. We feel connected to the Bosnian people, as we, the Rohingya, have gone through similar experiences. We received solidarity from the Bosnian community during the event, and we felt their positive feedback and support.
Jacobsen: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has reaffirmed support for The Gambia’s case at the International Court of Justice against Myanmar. How is the legal case progressing now?
Siddique: The legal case is ongoing. We are in touch with the main law firm handling the case. They informed us that in the first or second week of January there will be another hearing, and we are following up closely with them.
Jacobsen: The UN Security Council seems paralyzed on the issue of the Rohingya and Myanmar. With regard to the General Assembly and the recent high-level meeting, what were the important motions, if any, made around advancing accountability?
Siddique: We are expecting a lot from the UN General Assembly. Accountability is one of the key points. The second issue raised was the proposal for a safe zone or a multinational force that could provide protection for our community inside Myanmar. However, we have not seen any positive action yet from the United Nations or the General Assembly. They are doing good work in terms of humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya community in the camps, but we are still expecting more from them.
Jacobsen: What is the significance of the joint resolution presented at the event? Were any of the specific measures called upon for the international community taken into account in terms of actions or stipulations at the General Assembly level?
Siddique: We have seen some movement from UN missions such as Canada and Finland. They are focusing on educational programs for refugees in the camps. The European Union is also working hard on education and humanitarian assistance. But beyond that, we have not seen any significant or effective action.
Jacobsen: The Justice for All Burma Task Force surveyed one thousand Rohingya women. This is a more complex question, but what were the overall themes of the testimonies these women provided based on that survey? What does this tell you about the overall needs of at least half the Rohingya population?
Siddique: For women, empowerment and education programs are essential. They have gone through very difficult circumstances in the camps and during displacement. We have seen testimonies collected by Justice For All, and most of them focused on the empowerment of women and girls in the camps.
Jacobsen: How do you take those sentiments and programs focused on empowering women and implement them over time, especially when people are not established—they’re in camps or part of the diaspora? These are difficult circumstances. How do you take the themes from those testimonies and make them a reality in practical terms? What can realistically be done, and what cannot?
Siddique: It is our job to communicate these messages to the international community and seek their support to implement programs and projects for women’s empowerment.
Jacobsen: You mentioned Canada earlier. How has Canada been overall? Where has it done well, and where could it improve? In terms of providing further support to the current plight of the Rohingya—whether that’s through voting at the UN, being a signatory to international petitions or initiatives, or through direct measures like financing and international aid.
Siddique: Canada could improve by helping to establish a more systematic and accredited educational system in the camps for the younger generation. There is a major gap for children of school age. Most of them do not have the opportunity to attend accredited schools, which prevents them from reaching the level required for international universities. For example, if they study in the camps, it is very difficult for them to gain admission to any university for higher education.
Our focus now is to provide an authentic education recognized by international institutions so they can continue to higher education. One day, they will be able to claim their rights, defend themselves, and work for their community. That is our main goal.
Jacobsen: Based on what I’m looking at here, Canada did recognize the Rohingya genocide. The Canadian government supports the International Court of Justice case, has imposed sanctions on the Myanmar junta and its enablers, and has provided ten million dollars in aid for skills and livelihoods for Rohingya in Bangladesh between 2024 and 2026, along with four million dollars for emergency response through Development and Peace–Caritas between 2025 and 2026. Global Affairs Canada has also maintained public pressure on the issue. That’s actually quite good as far as efforts go. So, of those efforts, would you say that humanitarian aid and continued sanctions are probably the most practical measures moving forward, given that ICJ support and genocide recognition are already established?
Siddique: There is a major shortage in humanitarian aid, especially through the World Food Programme. The recent high-level conference focused on that. Thanks to the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Korea for contributing to that effort. The challenge is that there are about 1.1 to 1.2 million refugees in Bangladesh, and it is difficult to reach everyone. There are constant shortages.
Another issue is with the Rohingya who are still living inside Rakhine State in Myanmar. The humanitarian corridor there has been closed for many years. We are expecting discussions from the international community with those who control the area. It was under junta control before, but currently the Arakan Army is controlling parts of it. It is very difficult, and humanitarian aid is urgently needed inside Rakhine State as well.
Jacobsen: Thank you very much for your time today.
Siddique: Thank you very much.
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