APRRN Co-SG, Hafsar attended the South Asia Health and Humanity Summit 2024 in Colombo organised by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), sharing their experience and APRRN's advocacy and capacity building efforts towards gender-sensitive strategies to ensure an effective Whole of Society Approach to refugees' specific needs.

 

OHCHR Regional Office for South East Asia, in collaboration with APRRN and the Global Strategic Litigation Council organised a two-day meeting with 60 lawyers and activists from our region in Bangkok on 21-22 August, which had many APRRN members attending. ‘Strategic Litigation Network on Migrants and People on the Move in the Asia Pacific’ is a regional workstream, which APRRN is co-leading, under the UN Migration Network. The purpose of the workstream is to improve litigation strategies toward the realisation of objectives in the Global Compact on Migration (GCM), including addressing immigration detention, discrimination, sexual and gender-based violence, displacement due to climate change, and trafficking in persons.

 

Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day Event 

On 25 August, the Secretariat organised an online even “Ek Khaale: Preserving Rohingya Visual History” which was a presentation by Greg Constantine, award-winning documentary photographer, and APRRN member. Greg introduced ‘Ek Khaale’, a ground-breaking project that bridges generations to preserve Rohingya visual history. Watch the Webinar Here

 

The APRRN Board will meet on 27 September and the Steering Committee on 4 October for their third quarterly meetings this year.

 

Members Spotlight!

The Asia Pacific Network of Refugees (APNOR) is thrilled to share the release of the Asia Pacific Summit of Refugees (APSOR 2024) Report, which captures the essence of the three-day event, held in Malaysia and simultaneously in 13 other refugee-led local hubs across the Asia Pacific region. APSOR 2024 was a powerful collaborative effort, bringing together over 300 participants, including refugees, refugee-led organisations and key stakeholders, to address the pressing challenges faced by refugees and Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs).

 

What’s Inside the Report?

 

• Valuable Learnings & Innovative Solutions: Explore the key takeaways and the creative approaches proposed by refugees and RLOs.
• Collaborative Discussions: Gain insights into our meaningful dialogues with stakeholders, aimed at fostering sustainable and actionable solutions.
• Actionable Suggestions: Discover the practical recommendations that emerged from the summit, paving the way for future initiatives.
• APSOR 2024: A Testimony to Collaboration

 

The refugee-led local hubs across the region were strategically established to ensure accessible and inclusive participation, addressing the barriers to travel faced by refugees. Working together, we demonstrated that collaboration is key to achieving sustainable change. Check out more here

 

ACTIONS AND NEWS FROM MEMBERS

Justice Centre Hong Kong’s Lynette Nam on navigating the legal challenges in empowering refugees

As we honour those who have dedicated their lives to humanitarian causes on World Humanitarian Day, Deputy Chair of APRRN and immigration lawyer, Lynette Nam shares how a volunteer trip to the Thai-Myanmar border inspired her decades-long commitment to helping refugees and immigrants in need.

Refugee Council of Australia urges continued bipartisan support for the people of Afghanistan by upholding the Australian Government’s Global Refugee Forum pledge of $20 million in humanitarian assistance to support the needs of displaced Afghans and their host communities. This includes support for host countries to respond to priority humanitarian and protection needs and to build resilient communities through the Regional Refugee Response Plan for the Afghanistan Situation.

Rohingya Human Rights Initiative organised a Press Conference on 27 August on the "Continued Genocide of Rohingya in Myanmar. ‘The conference commemorated the 7th year since 2017 of Genocidal atrocities on Rohingya in Myanmar by the military Junta and the recent and continued atrocities carried out by both the Junta and the Arakan Army against the Rohingya in Myanmar. The conference featured notable speakers, including APRRN members and victims' testimonies.

View the recap video here.

Lilianne Fan from the Geutanyoe Foundation spoke at AWANI Tonight: Urgent call for global assistance in Myanmar's Rakhine – Watch Here

Our press release on 8 August: Immediate Global Attention Needed to Prevent Extermination of Rohingya in Arakan State, Myanmar (Burma) was initiated and drafted by three members with lived experience from our Rohingya Working Team: Read the Statement Here

The Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network (RMCN): Journey of Love: Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network (Documentary); The team hosted the screening and panel on 31 August at the Fort in Bangkok and talked about the challenges the Rohingya community faces in different phases of their lives, yet showcasing their resilience. They also highlighted the contribution and the leading role the community itself is taking in responding to the Rohingya issues on all fronts [inside Myanmar, in refugee camps, and in host countries]. There is an ongoing need to enhance the capacity of refugee-led/women-led organisations such as RMCN to ensure comprehensive, practical, and sustainable solutions for Rohingya refugees. 

 

RCoA: Refugee Council welcomes bill to limit immigration detention

The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) welcomes the bill proposed by an MP to limit detention of people seeking asylum to 90 days and prohibit the detention of children. The bill aligns with the Australian Labor Party’s national platform which commits Labor to enshrining a “90-day rule” on immigration detention, regularly reviewing decisions to detain, and ensuring children are not held in detention facilities.

 

News from the Region

Afghanistan:

The US State Department said the US has agreed to allow a ‘limited number’ of Afghan refugees to stay in the Philippines while awaiting for the approval of their special immigrant visas and US resettlement. US officials said about 300 Afghans will be processed for resettlement in the US under the current agreement with the Philippines, but anticipate that the program could be expanded.

 

The situation of women in Afghanistan is getting worse. Please see the  Women’s Regional Network reports about Afghan women human rights situations in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India

 

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation reported that 1,779,603 Afghan refugees have returned from Pakistan, Iran and other countries over the past 12 months. The ministry said approximately 10 million Afghans are currently displaced, of whom more than 7 million are refugees, mainly in Iran and Pakistan, and the remainder are internally displaced.

 

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said about 5,600 people in Afghanistan have been left with nowhere to go after recent evictions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kabul. NRC said the evictions had exacerbated the existing vulnerabilities of IDPs due to loss of social connections, family separations, disruption of livelihoods, poor living conditions, and health issues. 

 

As the Taliban marks 3 years in power, Afghan refugees remember lives back home with nostalgia, and despair. 

Fleeing the conflict in their homeland, the people of Afghanistan have sought safety in India over the decades. The Print looks at what life is like for these refugees living in Delhi.

Read and Download the UNHCR Afghanistan Situation Update - 1 July 2024 

IRAN:

Afghans increasingly forced to return from Iran, an overlooked population in dire need of protection As media attention has been focusing on the border with Pakistan since last November, the steady rise in numbers of Afghans compelled to return or deported from Iran since 2021 calls for an increased attention on the western border of Afghanistan.

 

Anti-refugee hostility and the new Iranian president

Masoud Pezeshkian became the ninth president of Iran at a time when the country was in the midst of one of the worst waves of anti-refugee and anti-Afghan sentiment. The most recent spark occurred last month with the news that an Iranian citizen was killed by Afghan nationals in Tehran. Immediately, there were reports of widespread violence targeting refugees. Read More Here

 

Pakistan:

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced his government will proceed with a new round of deportations of undocumented Afghans, saying that no one without documentation will be allowed to stay in Pakistan. 

Pakistan says registered Afghan refugees can stay for one more year

Pakistan says it will extend the validity of Proof of Registration cards of 1.45 million Afghan refugees for one year.

Amnesty International says: lifeline must extend to all

Responding to the announcement on Wednesday that the Government of Pakistan has agreed to a one-year extension for more than 1.45 million Afghan refugees who held UNHCR-issued Proof of Registration (PoR) cards in the country.  Thyagi Ruwanpathirana, Regional Researcher for South Asia, Amnesty International, said: “The decision by the Pakistan government to extend the stay of PoR cards holders for another year is a welcome development. However, Amnesty International urges the Government of Pakistan to extend this lifeline to all Afghan refugees in Pakistan and formally suspend the ‘Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan’. The uncertainty hanging over the future of more than 2.1 million Afghan refugees must end.

UNHCR calls for greater efforts towards longer-term solutions for Afghans in Pakistan

Wrapping up a three-day visit, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has called for a bolstering of efforts towards longer-term solutions for Afghans in Pakistan, and support for their host communities. Grandi visited Peshawar and Haripur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, meeting with Afghan refugees in urban settings as well as in a refugee village. People he met shared a message of anxiety regarding their situation, but also their desire to contribute to their communities in Pakistan, as well as eventually in Afghanistan.

 

Australia:

Australia doesn’t just influence detention regimes globally — it exports them

Former Manus Island detainee Behrouz Boochani on how Australia has been actively promoting its immigration detention policies abroad.

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre: 11,000 call on Federal MPs to end suffering in offshore detention and evacuate people now; An 11,000-strong petition calling for the evacuation of 140 people suffering in offshore detention will be delivered to Parliament House today, as a stark reminder to Federal Parliamentarians that lives are at risk in Papua New Guinea and Nauru unless urgent action is taken.

Growing Australia: how a refugee from Iran helped expand the pistachio industry

Thousands of pistachio trees stand in neat rows at Robinvale in northern Victoria. The orchard spans almost 300 hectares (741 acres) and is among the oldest of Australia’s large-scale commercial plantings, stretching across the flat plains near the Murray River. It’s a far cry from the mountains of south-west Iran, where Bahá’í man Mehran Mahdavi farmed before his family was forced to flee their homeland in 1980 to avoid persecution. But there are similarities. Both have harsh, dry summers and cold winters. Mahdavi, with a decade’s experience working in agriculture in Iran, could see the connection.

 

A world-first treaty with Australia ensures Tuvalu’s statehood will continue, even in the face of a climate catastrophe. The Falepili Union: A Pacific response to the greatest global challenges.

 

Five myths poisoning Australia’s migration debate

Half the world’s population votes in 2024 and many elections hinge on migration issues — but disinformation is rife. It’s become so bad it threatens democracy and global stability. Australia needs a trustworthy custodian of the facts on the most divisive issue of our time. Without a National Migration Institute, we risk a descent into 1930s-style xenophobic chaos. Here are five myths that dominate media and political discourse today. If we had a politically neutral institution doing basic research, we wouldn’t be wasting airtime on any of them.

They helped power Australia's Kabul embassy, but were then left in an 'impossible' situation

A company previously contracted by Australia to power its Kabul embassy says it's owed compensation for generators which are believed still inside the complex surrounded by Taliban police.

'Abhorrent chapter': New bill proposes 90-day cap on immigration detention 

Teal MP Kylea Tink is tabling a bill to cap immigration detention at 90 days as advocates call for the evacuation of asylum seekers in offshore detention.

 

‘More people seeking asylum struggle to get food on the table in 2024’, ASRC Media Release, 8 August 2024. The ASRC has seen a 43 % increase in families relying on its community foodbank in recent months due to the skyrocketing cost of living and people seeking asylum being denied work rights and access to social support by the Federal Government.

 

Refugees in need of resettlement: New pathways. Listen to the podcast or watch the video

 

Indonesia:

Refugees set up protest camp outside UNHCR office in Jakarta –. More than 200 refugees have encamped themselves outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Jakarta and are refusing to budge until the U.N. agency improves their living conditions and speeds up the resettlement process. The refugees, mainly from Somalia, Afghanistan, and Sudan have been sleeping rough in front of the U.N. building for the past week. They say the agency is dragging its feet in getting them resettled, while in the meantime they are being left to fend for themselves and live in temporary shelters with no food, water, money, or healthcare.

Thousands of refugees in Indonesia have spent years awaiting resettlement. Their future is unclear

Indonesia, despite having a long history of accepting refugees, is not a signatory to the U.N. Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol, and the government does not allow refugees and asylum-seekers to work. Many had fled to Indonesia as a jumping-off point hoping to eventually reach Australia by boat, but are now stuck in what feels like an endless limbo.

Some of the 12,700 Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Indonesia facing desperate situation after UNHCR lacks funding to continue to provide financial support for the most vulnerable. One refugee is reported to have committed suicide.

 

Despair Burgeons for Hazara Refugees Stranded in Indonesia for Years  

Jakarta Provincial Government Takes Action on Foreign Refugees Who Put Up Tents in Front of UNHCR Office

 

Thailand: 

HRW: Stop Assisting Neighboring Countries’ Transnational Repression

Thai authorities are assisting neighbouring governments to take unlawful actions against refugees and dissidents from abroad, making Thailand increasingly unsafe for those fleeing persecution, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. These targets of transnational repression have gotten caught up in a “swap mart” in which foreign dissidents in Thailand are effectively traded for critics of the Thai government living abroad. 

See the statistics and map of the Refugee Camp Population (June 2024)

 

Mae Sot: An escape route from Myanmar  

This once-sleepy Thai border town has assumed new significance since General Ming Aung Hlaing’s military junta seized control of Myanmar in February 2021. Mae Sot faces the town of Myawaddy, which lies close to the Andaman Sea port of Mawlamyine and the Kayin or Karen State capital Hpa-an. Bridges connecting Myawaddy and Mae Sot provide a southern exit from Myanmar, an exit route from Yangon five hours away when peace prevails. In recent times the journey from Yangon to Myawaddy can take two days because of fighting and a proliferation of checkpoints.

Malaysia:

APRRN was mentioned in an article: Rethinking Malaysia's approach to refugee aid: 

“A 2020 report by the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) found that more than 1,000 children are currently detained in Malaysia without access to education and other essential services.”

 

Malaysia Needs Sustainable Refugee Policies - Malaysia’s decision to welcome 147 Palestinians for medical treatment reflects a strong commitment to humanitarian values but also highlights the need for a more balanced approach to refugee support. In this podcast, how Malaysia's refugee policy should be reassessed is discussed with Dr. Aslam Abdul Jalil, Senior Lecturer, International Institute of Public Policy & Management, University Malaya. 

 

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: CSOs, including APRRN members, ensured that considerations of refugee women and girls were taken into consideration during Malaysia’s CEDAW review.  

 

Create a humane framework to manage asylum seekers and refugees

In Malaysia, as of May 2024, there are 189,340 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Males make up 65 percent of these numbers and females 35 percent. Some 166,290 persons are from Myanmar and the remaining are from 50 different countries. Overall, there are 52,810 children below the age of 18. Although Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, as a member of the United Nations, Malaysia is bound to uphold the rights and protection of refugees and asylum seekers in accordance with international human rights obligations. Hakam stands in solidarity with millions of refugees around the world in calling governments to cease conflicts and keep borders open to welcome the most vulnerable seeking refuge.

India:

Migration and Asylum Project (MAP)- Prevention Of Violence Against Migrant Women- Justice (Retd.) S.Muralidhar - Live Law

 

“The Rohingya Human Rights Initiative (R4R) held a press conference in Delhi on August 27, 2024, to bring attention to the ongoing struggles of the Rohingyas in Myanmar. The wounds from the genocidal attacks by Myanmar’s military in 2017 are still fresh, and now the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group, is inflicting further atrocities on the community in their fight against military oppression. R4R has urgently called for international intervention to protect and support the Rohingya community.”

 

India must end racial discrimination against Rohingya, cease forced deportation and arbitrary detention, urges UN Committee:  The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) on Tuesday called on India to end the arbitrary detention of Rohingya who fled Myanmar to India and refrain from forcible deportation and returns to Myanmar, where they would risk being subjected to serious human rights violations and abuses.

 

Supreme Court seeks Centre’s response on plea for Rohingya asylum seekers, refugees.

The Supreme Court recently sought a response from the Centre on a plea seeking the release of Rohingya asylum seekers and refugees who are in indefinite detention in the country.

 

The lifeless clause: Refugees and Article 21 of the Indian Constitution - An Independence Day look at the status of refugees and asylum seekers in India and how they are left adrift of protection from non-refoulement.

 

Statements by Local Authorities label Rohingya as Infiltrators

Rohingya infiltration into India has increased manifold. The West Bengal and Jharkhand governments are soft on these infiltrators and have taken no action to stop them.

 

Supreme Court's Rap For "Sorry State" Of Foreigners Detention Centre In Assam

The Supreme Court on Friday flagged the "sorry state" of a detention centre in Assam that house individuals whose citizenship is unclear and foreigners waiting to be deported. The court said it was troubled by the lack of water and sanitation facilities and non-functioning toilets.

A bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice AG Masih referred to a report by the Secretary of the Assam Legal Services Authority, about a detention centre in Matia in Goalpara district.

Myanmar: 

Beth Van Schaack, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice at the U.S. State Department is interviewed by RFA Burmese reporter Ye Kaung Myint Maung about the plight of the Rohingya and the current conflict in Myanmar.

 

BBC: Survivors’ tales of a massacre in Myanmar

 

Conflict in Myanmar between the military junta and opposition forces is increasingly brutal, with both sides likely responsible for international crimes including summary executions, top independent rights investigators said on Tuesday. Read More Here

Thousands flee after Myanmar rebels use drones to bomb Rohingya villagers - Arakan Army targeting Muslim minority as Myanmar’s military are driven out of Rakhine, UN official says

Amnesty International statement on Myanmar: New attacks against Rohingya a disturbing echo of 2017 mass violence 

Increasing deadly attacks against Rohingya people in Myanmar’s Rakhine State bear a terrifying resemblance to the atrocities of August 2017, Amnesty International said ahead of the seventh anniversary of the crisis.

 

Captured Myanmar Soldier: Army Joined Hands With ARSA Against Arakan Army Advance in Buthidaung The military regime collaborated with the Rohingya terror group to defend Buthidaung against the Arakan Army, according to a captured Myanmar military major.

 

Attacks against Rohingyas now ‘worse than in 2017’ - A recent assault against the ethnic Rohingya minority in Myanmar ‘is the second wave of genocide,’ experts warn

 

 

R4R Press Release Rohingya Human Rights Initiative (ROHRIngya) Condemns Atrocities Against Rohingya Civilians In Rakhine State’s Maungdaw Township

The Rohingya Human Rights Initiative (ROHRIngya) is deeply alarmed and condemns the ongoing violence and atrocities being committed against Rohingya civilians in western Myanmar, specifically in the town of Maungdaw in Rakhine State. As per our initial findings, more than 200 civilians, mostly children and women fleeing for safety, were killed in the first week of August 2024.

 

UNICEF released the Myanmar Landmine/ERW Incidents Information - (January-June 2024)

 

Children among up to 200 Rohingya killed in Myanmar drone attack 

Witnesses say people were killed in artillery and drone attacks that targeted civilians fleeing violence. Many dozens of Rohingya people, including children, were killed in an artillery and drone attack that targeted civilians as they tried to flee Myanmar last week.

 

Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) expressed concern about "‘Incredible brutality’ prevalent in battle for Myanmar"

Conflict in Myanmar between the military junta and opposition forces is increasingly brutal, with both sides likely responsible for international crimes including summary executions, top independent rights investigators said on Tuesday.

 

The Rohingya Crisis: Eight Potential Pathways to Repatriation

More than five years have passed since the atrocities committed against the Rohingyas in the Rakhine State of Myanmar in August 2017 forced nearly a million of them to take refuge in Bangladesh. With the prolongation of the Rohingya crisis, newer challenges are emerging for Bangladesh. The Rohingyas living in the camps in Bangladesh are willing to return to their homeland. The International Court of Justice’s verdict on July 22, 2022, rejecting all four Preliminary Objections of Myanmar, has paved the way to ensure accountability, an essential mechanism for finding a solution to the Rohingya crisis. At the same time, there have been public statements from government officials in Bangladesh, China, and Myanmar that repatriation will start soon. However, critics, both within the country and outside, point out that such repatriation should not compromise the principle of nonrefoulment. In this context, in the last few years, several pathways to the repatriation of the Rohingya have been envisaged and brought to the attention of policymakers and other national and international stakeholders. Eight potential pathways can easily be identified. 

 

Myanmar's junta terrorises, then rebels burn a Rohingya town

Both sides in the civil war have targeted the Rohingya settlement of Buthidaung. On May 17, the Arakan Army, an ethnic militia, set it ablaze.

 

Fresh Reports Emerge of Rohingya Killings in Western Myanmar

Rohingya activists and local media reports say that civilians have been targeted by the Arakan Army in Maungdaw, a town close to the border with Bangladesh

 

Luther Law Firm, Memo: Registration of Non-Profit Organizations in Myanmar

 

ASEAN, Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar

Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn today met with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar Aung Kyaw Moe during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings, in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Both sides discussed the ongoing work of ASEAN pertaining to its community-building efforts.

 

Bangladesh: 

Hope on the horizon? What Bangladesh’s regime change could mean for Rohingya refugees

Bangladesh is experiencing a seismic shift after 18 years of Awami League rule ended abruptly due to intensive student protests. This upheaval, and the crackdowns that resulted in the deaths of more than 300 protesters, forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country and ushered in an interim government. But amid this recent political turmoil, the fate of the nearly one million Rohingya refugees residing in the Cox’s Bazar camp in southeastern Bangladesh has grown uncertain.

 

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh hold rallies on the seventh anniversary of exodus 

Individuals involved in the rallies continued to call for an end to the violence and the ability to return to their home state, seven years on from the beginning of Myanmar’s military “crackdown” against the minority Muslim group. The military campaign resulted in government officials engaging in countless acts of murder, torture and assault against Rohingya individuals. Activist group Human Rights Watch claims the acts amount to “crimes against humanity,” as victims continue to recall accounts of violence, robberies and abductions.

 

The UN World Food Programme increased food rations for Rohingya refugees in camps in Bangladesh from US$10 to US$12.50 per person per month. Following a previous increase from US$8 to US$10 in January, the move has reversed cuts applied in 2023, when allocations were reduced from $12 to US$8. However, refugee leaders in the camps said rations remain strained due to escalating violence in Myanmar driving a recent influx of thousands of new refugees, who are not yet receiving food aid.  

 

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported a spike in the number of wounded Rohingyas crossing into Bangladesh

Who’s Who In Bangladesh’s New Interim Govt As Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina Flees Restive Nation? discussions about the new interim government included Sara Hossain (BLAST) and Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, Chair of BRAC. Muhammad Yunus, a pioneer in microfinance and a Nobel laureate, was appointed by the president on Tuesday to oversee the interim government.

 

ICG Analysis, Bangladesh: The Long Road Ahead

After fifteen years in power, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country following a month of protests in which over 300 people were killed. The army should prevent reprisal killings, and the soon-to-be-formed interim government should investigate abuses and begin rebuilding democracy.

OTHER:

Populist politicians will never ‘control’ immigration. Here are the humane alternatives

In Europe’s febrile immigration debate, one word crops up again and again: control. Building walls, sending boats back, offloading refugees and migrants onto other countries – in a year of multiple elections, populists assure voters that controlling everything from borders and immigration numbers to job markets and national security will make their lives better.

 

Filling the Gap: Refugee-to-Refugee Aid and the Role of Faith Actors in Humanitarian Settings 

Displaced people in protracted situations at times may find themselves welcoming newly displaced populations into their communities. Faith-based organizations, led by displaced people, may take on the role of responding to emergencies and distributing resources to new arrivals. This article will utilize existing literature and reports along with interviews from researchers in the field to offer a closer look at the intersections between refugee-based aid, faith-based outreach, and the persisting needs within the international humanitarian regime.

 

Reports & Publications

Assessing System Change: You May Not Know It but You Are Probably Already Doing It, So Why Not Go the Extra Mile?: The Beam Exchange recently published an interesting blog post explaining how your program is probably achieving more system change than you realize.

There is also a link on their website to a new toolkit published in May 2024 that offers guidance on operationalizing system change assessment. It comes with user-friendly tools that can help program teams collect and document information that shows their progress in contributing to system change.

 

Disability and women and girls in displacement from Myanmar

 

 

OHCHR: Regional Expert Consultation on Addressing Xenophobia in Asia and the Pacific on 23rd September 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.

 

Better Engagement Between East and Southeast Asia (BEBESEA), hosting the “Cross-Regional Forum: Promoting Rights of People on the Move in East and Southeast Asia” from 23 to 24 October 2024 in Taipei, Taiwan.

 

UN Women offers a range of Gender Training for Free.

 

APRRN/Members’ Job Vacancies

APNOR is announcing a new opportunity within the Asia Pacific Network of Refugees (APNOR). As part of our ongoing efforts to expand our financial resources and sustain our mission, we are seeking a dedicated Fundraising Specialist consultant to join our team.

If you know someone who would be a great fit for this role, or if you are interested in applying yourself, please submit your resume and CV to coordinator@apnor.org by 21st September 2024.

 

The RLRH team is looking for seasoned and dynamic leaders who are eager to make a splash in the global refugee higher education space (particularly at the graduate level), and in opening advanced professional opportunities for 500+ displacement-affected RLRH affiliates  – in research, academia, and practitioner spaces.  

The following two staff will be physically based at the University of Oxford, with integration into our global networks of hubs: 

Director of Operations and Strategy - closing Tuesday, October 8th at 12 noon BST (+1 GMT)

A critical leadership role that will ensure the smooth, efficient, and mission-centric functioning of RLRH. As a key relationship manager for the organisation, the postholder will serve as a liaison to in-person hub managers in Nairobi, Kakuma, East Oxford, and Kuala Lumpur, supporting and enabling hubs to be successful in meeting our goals. Through their effective team management, strategic planning, and cross-pillar collaboration, they will be instrumental in advancing RLRH's growth, driving innovation and fostering a culture of excellence and accountability. See the full job description here.

 

Director of Academic Programmes - closing Tuesday, October 15th at 12 noon BST (+1 GMT)

Lead a team of education experts to deliver RLRH's hallmark academic bridging and graduate access efforts. The postholder’s leadership will grow programmes that are relevant, rigorous, culturally responsive, and mindful of institutional values. They will leverage their excellent experience with programme management and operations to elevate the achievements of our students and alumni across more than 100 countries. The successful candidate will possess a PhD or Master’s degree with extensive experience in designing and leading graduate-level programmes, as well as experience in teaching and facilitating diverse cohorts of learners. See the full job description here.

Please be aware: Both roles meet the requirements for UK visa sponsorship, thus we encourage applications from anyone who is eligible, irrespective of their nationality or current geography. RLRH values diversity of identity, experience, and outlook in our team, and, in line with our mission, we encourage applications from individuals who identify as having been affected by displacement, as well as social groups that are under-represented in this space, including, but not limited to, LGBTQI+, gender non-conforming, women, and disabled candidates. 

Feel free to be in touch with Sarah (ghazal.salehi@refugeeledresearch.org) or Andonis (andonis.marden@refugeeledresearch.org) with any questions or if you’d like to have a conversation. 

 

Funding opportunities

The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a flexible, small grants scheme funded by the Australian Government and managed by the Australian Embassy in Thailand. Through DAP, we fund projects that provide direct benefits to those most in need in the local Thai community, including vulnerable or disadvantaged groups. Deadline: 4 October 2024

 

Call for Proposals: Small Scale Projects (SSPs) 2025 in Thailand and Laos by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Bangkok, budget from 200,000 CZK (approx. 8,500 USD) to 500,000 CZK (approx. 22,000 USD) maximum. Focus on: environment, agriculture, health, education, or social services etc. All projects should be based on the principle of sustainability - that is sustaining the benefits for the long term without any additional external support. The deadline for submissions is October 9, 2024.

 

Mekong Australia Partnership – call for proposals | Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (dfat.gov.au). Thematic areas include Gender equality, disability, and social inclusion. The deadline for submission of proposals is Friday, 11 October 2024 at 17:00 (Australian Eastern Standard Time) and more information including Guidelines, Eligibility & Selection Criteria is available on DFAT’s website.

There is also an information session:

Date: Friday, 20 September 2024 at 13:00 (Australian Eastern Standard Time).

How to register: Send an email to  map2-callforproposals@dfat.gov.au   

 

What’s Possible

What’s Possible fund will offer grants to directly support young activists, community workers, and organizers across many focus areas–all with the aim of providing critical direct support to advance their continued safety, well-being and human rights.

Youth-led groups and organizations may apply for core and project-based funding for up to 2 years. Application Deadline: 24 September 2024.

 

UNESCO x SEVENTEEN’s “Going Together – For Youth Creativity and Well-Being” Grant Scheme

The project will be initiated with a worldwide call for applications. Subject to the availability of funds, support will be provided for youth-led projects that address challenges affecting the well-being and development of young people and their communities. Deadline Date: 30 September 2024.

 

Gupta Family Foundation

Grant Application Form - 2025: Qualifying grantee organizations are typically US-based IRS 501(c)(3) entities although foreign organizations may also qualify for grants by submitting. Deadline Date: Rolling.

 

French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs issued a Call for Projects: The Laboratory for Women’s Rights Online, EUR 40,000 to EUR 60,000 (Maximum). Deadline Date: September 23, 2024.

 

 

The UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok invites nominations for SDG4 Navigators: Call for Nominations: Nominate an SDG4 Navigator – Advancing Quality Education in Asia and the Pacific. Deadline: 30 September 2024.

 

Endangered Languages Documentation Programme

The Endangered Languages Documentation Programme (ELDP) provides grants for the documentation of endangered languages globally. ELDP especially welcomes applications from documenters from language communities, local scholars and students from the country where the language is spoken/signed, as well as collaborative and interdisciplinary projects. There are no restrictions on nationality or host institution, language documenters of any nationality to undertake projects in any part of the world with our funding. Deadline Date: October 01, 2024.

 

U.S. Mission to the Philippines: Public Affairs Annual Program Statement, Award amounts may range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $50,000, and the performance period is 12 to 24 months. Deadline Date: September 30, 2024 Read More Here

 

U.S. Mission to Malaysia, U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State: Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program, invites proposals for programs that strengthen ties between the U.S. and Malaysia through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation (incl. countering disinformation, cybersecurity, and transnational threats), a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $99,000. Deadline Date: September 19, 2024 Read More Here 

 

U.S. Mission to Japan provides $10,000 to a maximum of $100,000 via the Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program, for projects that use U.S.-Japan cooperation to increase transparency and good governance, strengthen democratic processes, counter state-sponsored disinformation, and promote respect for the rule of law and human rights in the Indo-Pacific region. Deadline Date: September 30, 2024. Read More Here

 

Apply for the Incident Emergency Fund, €10,000, with Digital Defenders Partnership - a rapid response mechanism for human rights defenders, journalists, activists and organisations facing digital threats and attacks.

 

The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) provides a range of grants via its LIFELINE: THE EMBATTLED CSO ASSISTANCE FUND, including:

1. short-term emergency assistance to CSOs threatened because of their human rights work
2. Lifeline rapid response advocacy grants give local CSOs the resources to push back against restrictions on civic space
3. Lifeline resiliency grants are meant to provide support to CSOs at high risk to avoid or mitigate the threats they face

ICNL accepts applications for advocacy support and resiliency support on a rolling basis. A preliminary application for Lifeline support may be found here (as a form) or here (as a Word document)

 

Law Society of Ontario issued a call for Nominations for its Human Rights Award - Deadline: September 30, 2024

 

Rafto Prize for Human Rights and Democracy - Deadline: 1st February 2025

 

UN Women seeks to partner with a Women’s Rights Organization (WRO) with operational presence and capacities in Cox’s Bazar. The selected partner will implement a network of Gender Volunteers in the Rohingya refugee camps and host communities. This partnership will focus on enhancing gender-responsive service delivery, promoting women's leadership, and advancing social cohesion in both the Rohingya camps and host communities through the Engaging Men through Accountable Practice (EMAP) approach. Budget 400,000 USD. Submission deadline: 26 September 2024.