Non-governmental and rights organizations in Myanmar have called for the full restoration of citizenship for the persecuted Rohingya community ahead of a high-level United Nations meeting on minority rights, The Irrawaddy reported.

A coalition of 58 organizations, including Amnesty International, has also demanded that Rohingya representatives be given a voice at the UN conference, scheduled for 30 September.

The groups stressed that beyond citizenship, the international forum must address broader economic, social, and political rights for all communities in Myanmar, while ensuring accountability for past atrocities and pursuing long-term solutions.

The appeal comes as the Rohingya mark the 8th anniversary of the 25 August 2017 crackdown in Rakhine State, when more than 700,000 fled to Bangladesh following a military-led campaign widely described as ethnic cleansing.

According to the organisations, Rohingya in Myanmar continue to face systematic persecution, including severe movement restrictions and aid blockages imposed by the junta, which have worsened food shortages and health crises in affected areas.

Rights groups insist that without international pressure and recognition of the Rohingya’s citizenship rights, the cycle of oppression and exclusion will persist.

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