As well as the media, some interested parties either keen to know more about the Rohingya or support the campaign took home DVD’s with all the footage screened and the media statement. They were all encouraged to share the footage and the stories of the Rohingya.
One attendee who had previously attended our Building Hope event last month where we spoke about the Rohingya, had said that before then he had ‘’never heard of the Rohingya and neither had his family or friends’’. Indeed, raising awareness of the Rohingya community is one of the biggest challenges. However, raising awareness is integral at this stage and everyone can act to ensure that the Rohingya and their struggles are known.
A plea was made to the media which was supported by over 46 other organisations to report on the stories of Arakan on an international scale in an unbiased manner. The mainstream media is starting to rise, but regardless we as individuals still have an obligation to continue to spread the news of the Rohingya struggles.
It is at such times, that the international media and world leaders are required to pressure leaders enacting such grave human rights abuses. This issue is not about politics, race or religion, it is purely about simple human rights, rights that the Rohingya have been denied decades before this summer.
It is our duty as humans to make the atrocities known, and to stand up for the oppressed.