In response to a bipartisan group of Senators calling on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to designate Burma’s military actions against the Rohingya Muslim people a genocide, American Jewish World Service (AJWS) Director of Government Affairs Rori Kramer issued this statement:
“America Jewish World Service (AJWS) applauds the bi-partisan group of Senators, led by Senators Rubio and Menendez, for their moral leadership on the genocide in Burma. We commend their strong recommendation to Secretary of State Pompeo to make the determination of genocide, which would match the overwhelming evidence laid out by expert researchers and a report by the Department led by the Secretary.
This call by the Senators follows the U.S. House overwhelmingly urging Pompeo to call this a genocide through a resolution, which the Senate also began action on.
We believe that unified American leadership will bring us closer to achieving justice for the Rohingya people. As a Jewish organization, we speak for a community that understands from its own history of persecution that the dangers of ethnic persecution of any minority, and we are committed to making sure that genocide never occurs again.”
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About American Jewish World Service (AJWS)
American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is the leading Jewish organization working to pursue justice and fight poverty in the developing world. By supporting hundreds of social change organizations in 19 countries, we respond to the most pressing issues of our time—from disasters, genocide and hunger to the persecution of women and minorities worldwide. With Jewish values and a global reach, AJWS is making a difference in millions of lives and bringing a more just and equitable world closer for all. Learn more at www.ajws.org.
About American Jewish World Service’s work in Burma
For more than 15 years, AJWS has supported the human rights of ethnic minorities in Burma, including the Rohingya people. AJWS provides direct financial support to more than 30 human rights organizations in Burma that have been working to advance the rights of minority ethnic groups and to create a truly pluralistic and democratic society. Please read more about our work in Burma here.
For More Information
If you are a member of the press and wish to obtain information about our work or speak to a member of our global team on deadline, please contact Tanyanika Davis, Director of Media Relations, at tdavis@ajws.org.
