Summary 18 KEY RECOMMENDATIONS As Myanmar approaches elections in 2020, issues of citizenship and ethnic identity will continue to factor prominently in the national discourse. D.M, 65, holds his orginal household list from an annual household survey conducted by the Myanmar authorities. For many Rohingya, this is their only form of identification. D.M. and his three sons fled to Bangladesh following Myanmar Army-led attacks in 2016. “All my family members are from [my] village in Maungdaw. My father was born there, I was born there, my great grandfather was also born there . . . Those of us who can read saw that the NVC card [application] mentions that we would be called Bengalis if we take the card,” he said. He and his three sons refused to take the card. “Then October 9 [2016] happened. The Army came to our village and burned all our homes. I am grateful to Bangladesh for giving us shelter and a home.” ©Saiful Huq Omi, Counter Foto, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, August 2019 In order to address the protracted crisis and prevent further atrocities in Rakhine State, the Government of Myanmar should immediately abolish the NVC process and restore equal access to full citizenship rights for Rohingya through a speedy administrative process developed in meaningful consultation with the Rohingya community in Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the diaspora. As part of this process, the government should amend the 1982 Citizenship Law to bring it in line with international law and standards and ensure equal access to full citizenship rights, regardless of ethnicity, race, or religion. Until Myanmar makes appropriate changes in its law and policies to provide Rohingya equal access to full citizenship, the Government of Bangladesh with support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees should suspend plans to return Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. Plans

Select target paragraph3