For ALL Women and Girls: ‘Work with us, not just for us’, urges Rohingya activist
#ForAllWomenAndGirls is a global call to action marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Lucky Karim, a young Rohingya woman and refugee, powerfully embodies this spirit.
Born in northern Rakhine State, Myanmar, Lucky Karim was only 14 when genocidal violence forced her family to flee on 25 August 2017. Over seven harrowing days, she crossed mountains and rivers with her mother and two younger brothers to reach the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh—now the world’s largest refugee settlement, hosting over one million people. Her father, imprisoned by the Myanmar military, was unable to escape with them.
Who are the Rohingya people and what caused the refugee crisis?
The Rohingya are an ethnic group who have lived in the area now known as Myanmar for centuries, largely in Rakhine State. But since 1982, the majority Buddhist country has denied citizenship to the majority Muslim ethnic group, rendering them stateless. In 2017, a violent military offensive in Rakhine forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee across the border to Bangladesh. The Rohingya genocide continues with surging conflict and persecution in Myanmar.
In the overcrowded camps, where refugees live in makeshift shelters of bamboo and tarpaulin, Karim remained determined to continue her education. “I paid for private tutoring in English and mathematics by working for humanitarian organizations”, she shared. As an interpreter and gender advocate, she bridged communication between Rohingya refugees, aid workers, and journalists.
Her dedication opened doors: in 2019, Karim became one of the first girls from her camp to attend the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh. She later went door-to-door encouraging families to send their daughters to school.
Since resettling in the United States in December 2022, Karim has continued her education online and is preparing to enroll in a US-based university.
Rohingya women leading change in refugee camps
Recognizing the power of women’s leadership, Karim founded Refugee Women for Peace and Justice (RWPJ)—the first registered Rohingya refugee–led non-profit operating both in the United States and in Bangladesh’s refugee camps.
The organization works to prevent gender-based violence and child marriage, and to promote refugee women’s leadership. Its volunteers offer literacy classes, legal awareness training, and human rights sessions to help women and girls access education and services.
“We start with simple things—learning to write their names and sign documents”, Karim explained. “Then we build trust and start deeper conversations about violence, early marriage, and trafficking.”
How many Rohingya refugees are in Bangladesh and what is their current situation?
More than 1.1 million Rohingya refugees – 75 per cent of them women and children – live in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Most are settled in the Kutupalong and Nayapara refugee camps, so that Rohingya now make up one-third of the population in Cox’s Bazar. These are some of the largest and most densely populated camps in the world where there are little to no educational opportunities or livelihoods, and difficult rainy seasons and fires worsen living conditions. Some have been relocated to the island of Bhasan Char to ease crowding, but resources remain strained.
In a context where restrictive norms often confine women and girls to their homes, grassroots, women-led initiatives like RWPJ are critical. However, Karim’s leadership made her a target of threats from organized groups within the camps.
“I was no longer safe, but I didn’t want to stop my work”, she said.
Facilitated by UNHCR, she and her family were safely resettled in the United States. Yet, her commitment to her community remains unwavering. In March 2025, Karim became the first resettled Rohingya refugee to return to the camps in Bangladesh, helping build a network of emerging female leaders to drive change from within.
What Rohingya refugees need: Better education, security, and representation
Karim advocates for both urgent improvements in camp conditions and long-term solutions like safe, voluntary, and dignified return to Myanmar.
“We need better security, formal education for adolescents, and improved livelihoods for women and families”, she stressed. While “child-friendly spaces” offer basic education for younger children, there is no formal schooling for adolescent girls and young women in the camps.
What are the specific risks for Rohingya girls and women?
Rohingya women and girls faced widespread and systematic sexual and gender-based violence in 2017 in Myanmar – and meet new risks as refugees. While they make up more than half of the population in Bangladeshi refugee camps, conservative gender norms and the lack of opportunities put them at risk of exploitation, sexual abuse, forced marriages, and human trafficking. Many women report feeling unsafe, and domestic violence trends higher in congested conditions. But Rohingya women also play critical roles in their own recovery, advocating for their rights and their families.
“People see refugee women and girls as helpless, but I am proof that we are strong”, Karim says. Her message to policymakers and organizations: “Work with refugees, not just for refugees. Give us a chance and see who we can be. We are strong and capable—we just need you to open the door.”
The Beijing Declaration and refugee women's leadership
Adopted in 1995, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action recognized refugee women’s unique challenges and demanded their leadership in decisions affecting their lives—from camp management to long-term solutions.
Thirty years later, Karim emphasizes how urgent these demands remain for Rohingya girls:
“Beijing+30 is about action. Refugee women need to be at the decision-making table—not just consulted but truly involved. We are the ones living these realities. We know what needs to change.”
UN Women’s support for Rohingya women and girls
Karim’s advocacy journey began in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps, supported by UN Women.
“UN Women was the first organization that believed in my leadership. They gave me a safe space, tools, and opportunities to participate in events and conversations.”
As the only UN agency dedicated to advancing gender equality for all women and girls, UN Women has been on the ground since the Rohingya crisis began in 2017. Through eight multi-purpose women’s centres and women-run markets, UN Women helped more than 120,500 women access multisectoral services in 2024 and reached more than 51,600 refugees with life-saving information and assistance.
By investing in refugee women’s leadership and voices, organizations like UN Women—alongside young leaders like Lucky Karim—are working to build a safer, more just world for all women and girls.
This World Refugee Day, how can you help women and girls fleeing crisis?
As humanitarian funding continues to decline, it’s women and girls who suffer most, facing rising hunger, displacement, and violence without the resources to survive or recover.
This story was originally published on 19 May 2025 and has been updated with new information.
