In September, our TakeAction email suggested writing to Minister Freeland and asking her to make specific commitments to help the Rohingya. As a significant contributor of international assistance, Canada does have influence with the government in Myanmar. Canada has also recently joined a “Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect” which meets at the UN to advance international support for R2P.

This week, Bob Rae was named as Prime Minister Trudeau’s Special Envoy to Myanmar. The press release said that Rae “will reinforce the urgent need to resolve the humanitarian and security crisis in Myanmar and to address the situation affecting vulnerable populations, including the Rohingya Muslim community, other religious and ethnic minorities, and women and girls. He will also advise the Prime Minister on how Canada can best support efforts to respond to the needs of those affected and displaced by the recent violence.”

As well, an additional $12 million in humanitarian assistance was announced.

WFMC also signed on to a letter organized by Human Rights Watch, and signed by 88 non-governmental organizations in total, that called on the UN General Assembly and Security Council to take immediate steps to address the human rights abuses and humanitarian catastrophe.