UN Special Rapporteur Denied Entry to Myanmar, to Visit Bangladesh to Assess Rohingya Crisis

UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Kelly E. Currie, has been denied permission to enter Myanmar to assess the country's human rights situation firsthand. However, she is set to visit Bangladesh on a seven-day mission to examine the deteriorating human rights situation in Myanmar, particularly the Rohingya crisis and conditions in Rakhine State.

The UN special rapporteur is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Wednesday, with her visit continuing until November 18.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said Currie had formally requested permission to visit Myanmar. However, the country's authorities informed her that they were not in a position to facilitate such a visit at this time.

During her stay in Bangladesh, Currie will assess the ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar, the human rights situation in Rakhine State and the impact of the crisis on Rohingya refugees who have sought shelter in Bangladesh.

She will also explore potential areas of future cooperation with Bangladesh to address the Rohingya crisis.

As part of her visit, the UN special rapporteur is expected to meet government officials at various levels, civil society representatives, victims and survivors of human rights violations.

In addition to Dhaka, she is scheduled to visit several Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar.

At the end of her visit, Currie will hold a press conference at the UN House in Dhaka on November 18.

Her next report, based on the Bangladesh visit and related findings, is scheduled to be presented at the United Nations Human Rights Council session in March 2027.