NEWSLETTER DETAILS
News Briefs (November 2024)
Our News Briefs bring you the latest highlights from the advocacy efforts of APRRN and our members, as well as keeping you informed on upcoming events and activities. We strive to provide regular updates on the network’s activities and developments in the refugee protection sphere, alongside the emerging political climate in the Asia Pacific region. We welcome contributions from members! Please share your updates, information, or resources with Ali at msco@aprrn.org
Bangkok
Klaus welcomed Amnesty International (AI) staff, including Kate Schuetze, Deputy Regional Director for research, to our office in Bangkok, where potential collaboration between APRRN and Amnesty International was discussed. APRRN is strengthening our relationship with Amnesty International and will have more meetings in January, including on joint fundraising in our region.
Lynette and Klaus met with the Swedish Embassy for an update on strategies and plans and to explore possible collaboration between APRRN, the Embassy and partners of the Embassy. Access to livelihood (a current advocacy priority for APRRN) and the Embassy’s involvement with Business and Human Rights were discussed and will be pursued.
Klaus represented SSI at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review in Bangkok. There was very little focus on women and girls on the move, both from interventions and discussions by policy and decision-makers, UN agencies, and civil society.
Klaus moderated a session and Hafsar spoke at a Policy Roundtable organised by The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Regional Support Office of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime (RSO), on “Improving the Response to People Going Missing Along Dangerous Routes in Asia.” A number of APRRN members as well as representatives from embassies in Bangkok, UN agencies, and a number of policy makers, including from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh attended. A report from the meeting will be forthcoming.
Klaus welcomed Ling Ling Tai, Board member from ReAct, to discuss and exchange on a variety of issues, including on meaningful, diverse and intentional participation of people with lived experience.
On 14 November 2024, network co-leads OHCHR and APRRN convened a session at the 2024 PILnet Global Forum in Bangkok on Strategic Litigation Collaboration on Migrants and People on the Move in Asia Pacific. We introduced the network to 40 participants, who discussed their experience with litigation and common litigation challenges and opportunities.
The session was a great opportunity to bring together practitioners from law firms, NGOs, and UN agencies, to enhance connections that strengthen strategic litigation collaboration impacting refugee migrants in the region. Read More Here
Geneva
Hafsar was awarded a one-month fellowship program on the rights of minorities organised by OHCHR in Geneva and in Strasbourg. During the fellowship, Hafsar raised the issues of forced displacement in the Asia and the Pacific region and the need for international, regional, and global responses to the issues. They spoke at various UN forums, and at the Council of Europe, and reiterated that human rights violations and abuses against minorities in Asia and the Pacific region must not be forgotten or normalised amidst other emerging and pressing human rights issues across the globe.
On 22 November, Hafsar met with the permanent mission of Indonesia. The mission is willing to collaborate in pushing refugee policies and improving refugee protection and socio-economic inclusion of refugees in ASEAN. They will share progress made during Indonesia's ASEAN chairmanship (2023) so we can push it forward during the chairmanship of Malaysia.
On 28 November, Hafsar did a presentation at a firechat event with the Deputy High Commissioner of OHCHR, Nadah Al-Shif, on the ongoing human rights violations against Myanmar Civilians, including Rohingya, and the need for the regional, national, and international comprehensive response to these.
On 29 November, Hafsar made an intervention during the 17th session of the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues on 29 November under the theme of education. Hear Hafsar’s intervention at timestamp (1:42:00)
Kuala Lumpur
Klaus spoke and co-moderated a one-day workshop “Building Equitable Futures”, convened by Beyond Borders Malaysia, Keele University, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), UK. The workshop had 50+ participants from civil society who deliberated on pressing human rights needs and priorities, including forced displacement and identified priority areas for funding with a view to informing AIHRC on future funding streams.
Members Spotlight!
The Somali Women Association Malaysia (SWAM) empowers Somali refugee women in Malaysia by providing sustainable livelihoods, safe spaces, and connections to support networks through referrals. SWAM’s mission is to raise awareness about mental health, combat gender-based violence (GBV), and create a vibrant, inclusive community where every woman and girl can lead a dignified, self-determined life. Through skill-building initiatives, awareness campaigns, and community engagement programs, SWAM strives to transform lives, foster resilience, and promote empowerment.
SWAM was one of the Refugee Women-Led organisations that was a partner of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) initiated project: Refugee Women and Girls, the Key to Implementing Commitments made in the Global Compact on Refugees. See SWAM's Website
ACTIONS AND NEWS FROM MEMBERS
Professor Jane McAdam traces her decades of research into climate mobility in a new video, ‘On the Future of Climate Mobility’
Najeeba Wazefadost from APNOR delivered the progress statement for the multi-stakeholder pledge on Meaningful Refugee Participation during the 4th quarterly informal briefing on the Global Compact on Refugees.
Empowering refugee women - A resource kit to support refugee-led work, address SGBV and barriers to participation can now be accessed online. The Resource Kit consists of a variety of TOOLS. It is a major outcome of the project ‘Refugee Women and Girls, the Key to Implementing Commitments made in the Global Compact on Refugees’, led by Eileen Pittaway and Linda Bartolomei, Forced Migration Research Network, University of New South Wales( UNSW) in collaboration with diverse partners, including APRRN. The Resource Kit has been developed to support work with unregistered and registered refugee-led organisations, and groups with diverse levels of education to identify context-specific barriers and solutions to: gender equality, participation, leadership, decision-making, social inclusion and an improved response to sexual and gender-based violence.
International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) Member Builds Bridges Across Oceania
On 19 September 2024, Jason Siwat, Deputy Chair of APRRN’s Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Working Group and Director of the Migrants and Refugees Desk at ICMC member of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, shared the story of the newly established Migrants and Refugee Oceania Network.
It was a milestone night when barrister Kate Eastman and human rights advocate Zaki Haidari - Chair of APRRN's ANZPWG jointly delivered the first Kaldor Centre Oration at a sold-out NIDA Playhouse on 21 November. Kate and Zaki shared powerful, moving reflections on the ‘Tampa affair’ and its ramifications for refugees in the years since. Their remarks were described as ‘cinematic’ and ‘chilling’, with audience members rising in standing ovation by the end. As Zaki noted, ‘more than ever... we need to educate more Australians about refugees and people seeking asylum, who they are and why they need protection. We need to equip our fellow citizens to stand for fairness, justice, and humanity – not to back cruelty and shameful policies, whipped up in response to political fear-mongering.’ Watch the video or listen to the podcast of this inspiring event.
Fortify Rights, Unseen Wounds: Photographs of the Continuing Mental Toll of Genocide, Exhibition Opening Discussion.
Refugee Self Reliance Initiative (RSRI) – Market System Development training on “Applying Market Systems Approaches to Employment and Entrepreneurship Programs for Forcibly Displaced and Host Populations.” on how to use market systems approaches to increase program sustainability, scale, and impact and support forcibly displaced and host populations. WATCH THE RECORDING >>
APNOR consultation Bangladesh Report 2024 is available now.
APNOR national consultation in Japan report 2024 is available now.
News from the region
Afghanistan:
Afghanistan's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation reported that over two days 325 Afghans were deported from Türkiye to Afghanistan, including both documented and undocumented Afghan nationals.
'We are dying every moment' - the Afghans risking their lives to reach UK
Pakistan:
UNHCR - Pakistan Overview of Refugee and Asylum-Seekers Population
UNHCR - Pakistan Voluntary Repatriation of Afghan Refugees
UNHCR - Afghanistan Border Monitoring Report January-September 2024
Pakistan suggests world gathering on Afghan refugee issue, Muhammad Abbas Khan said a summit could encourage Western countries to increase their quotas and expedite the resettlement process of Afghan refugees.
UN: Over two million Afghan migrants deported from Pakistan and Iran in past year.
What does the forced deportation of Afghan refugees hold for Pakistan?
In October 2023, Pakistan announced its decision to deport undocumented Afghan refugees beginning November 2023 to Afghanistan. Afghan refugees have been displaced for over four decades, starting with the Soviet invasion in 1979 and continuing through subsequent conflicts. According to the Pakistani government, the country currently hosts about 3 million Afghan refugees of which nearly 2.4 million have some form of legal documentation.
MUSAWI summary on Pakistan's 2nd Review of progress on ICCPR.
Indonesia:
Indonesian officials reported that 116 Rohingya refugees were rescued by local fishermen on 30 November after their boat sank off the coast of Indonesia’s Aceh province. The group had sailed from camps in the Cox’s Bazar region of Bangladesh, hoping to reach Indonesia or Malaysia.
Rohingya Refugees in Indonesia Face Dire Uncertainty Amid IOM’s New Policies: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has announced a policy change that could have devastating consequences for Rohingya refugees in Indonesia. By November 30, 2024, all Rohingya refugees who arrived in the country after January 1, 2019, must vacate IOM-provided accommodation. Compounding this crisis, IOM has also declared a significant reduction in the monthly cash allowances for these refugees.
UNHCR Operational Context As of September 2024, Indonesia is host to 11,735 refugees and asylum-seekers (6,548 families) residing primarily in urban areas throughout the Indonesian archipelago.
UNHCR Indonesia - Emergency Update: Rohingya Boat Arrivals as of 1 November 2024.
Thailand:
Human Rights Watch: Thai authorities forcibly returned six Cambodian political activists to Cambodia, The six deportees, who were members of the now-dissolved opposition party in Cambodia, had fled to Thailand in 2022, where five were recognised as refugees by UNHCR and one was awaiting refugee status determination. This is taking place as Thailand is starting its three-year term on the United Nations Human Rights Council in January 2025.
Kasit Piromya, the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) Board Member stated: "These individuals are now detained in three separate prisons in Cambodia. This is not just a devastating blow to their families but a stark failure of ASEAN’s commitment to human rights,”
UN Committee Should Press Thailand Not to Deport Refugees to Torture: Authorities Routinely Disregard Obligations under Convention Against Torture.
He Made a Daring Escape From China. Then His Real Troubles Began. He fled brutal repression — only to discover, as so many Uyghur refugees have, that China’s power stretches far beyond its borders.
UN declined offers to assist Uyghur asylum seekers detained in Thailand. Nyrola Elimä and Ben Mauk report on a human trafficking route through Southeast Asia used by hundreds of Uyghurs fleeing China.
Thai authorities arrested 70 immigrants believed to be Rohingya from Myanmar, who were suspected of being in the country illegally. The group of 40 adults and 30 children was reportedly seen on the beach on an island in southern Thailand, with the women wearing hijabs.
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) published a 43-page report, titled "Out of sight - Human rights violations in Thailand’s immigration detention centers", based on interviews with recently released detainees who reported conditions that were well below relevant national and international minimum standards. The report investigates Thailand’s secretive immigration detention centers, where overcrowding, abuses, and inhuman conditions prevail. With access strictly limited, firsthand accounts reveal urgent human rights concerns.
Thailand's draft NGO law is back on the table. It seeks to impose mandatory registration requirements for all associations and foundations with the Ministry of Interior, effectively banning unregistered groups. It introduces strict reporting requirements, particularly on foreign funding, and grants the government significant authority to dissolve organizations for overly broad, poorly defined reasons, such as activities deemed harmful to “public order” or “public morality.” If enacted, the draft law would authorize the Ministry of Interior to conduct unannounced inspections of non-profit offices and records without a warrant, mandate extraneous and burdensome reporting, and impose severe penalties, including prison terms, for non-compliance.
Malaysia:
As of the end of October 2024, there are some 192,150 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Malaysia. Some 170,040 are from Myanmar, comprising around 111,020 Rohingyas, 27,800 Chins, and 31,210 other ethnic groups from conflict-affected areas or fleeing persecution in Myanmar. The remaining individuals are some 22,100 refugees and asylum-seekers from 50 countries fleeing war and persecution, including around 5,920 Pakistanis, 3,180 Yemenis, 2,820 Somalis, 2,810 Afghans, 2,710 Syrians, 1,110 Sri Lankans, 570 Palestinians, 520 Iraqis, and others.
Malaysia to address Rohingya refugees issue as Asean 2025 chair, says Tok Mat
The Escape To Freedom: How Malaysia Became Uyghur Refugees’ Lifeline
‘Resettlement is worthwhile for our children’s future’: reflections from the Stateless Rohingya refugees in Malaysia publication based on interviews in 2019.
Awaiting refugee status, Myanmar nationals in Malaysia struggle, risk deportation: Many of the hundreds of thousands of Myanmar citizens who have fled to Malaysia to escape their country’s turmoil and repression have been in limbo for years, waiting to be granted refugee status, which would ensure at least basic rights, while the threat of deportation hangs over them.
India:
India’s Manipur authorities give Myanmar refugees 1-month deadline to return home: The refugees had crossed the border to flee junta airstrikes and arson attacks.
Can ASEAN and India bring peace to Myanmar: ASEAN and India will need to adopt a more inclusive and pragmatic approach towards Myanmar — one that involves all key stakeholders
Five landlords booked in Jammu for renting homes to Rohingya persons.
Myanmar:
After five years of investigations, the International Criminal Court (ICC) requested an arrest warrant for Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing for crimes against humanity relating to the persecution and deportation of Rohingya Muslims to Bangladesh. Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh said they welcomed the ICC’s decision, and the Bangladesh government said it represents a significant step towards justice and accountability.
A Future Myanmar Must Include the Rohingya: Pro-democracy forces must do more to publicly condemn and investigate atrocities against the group—no matter who is committing them.
Trump presidency may end resettlement of Myanmar refugees: President-elect’s campaign announcements worry human rights advocates who warn of stricter US regulations on trade and migrants.
A new report by UNDP said the economy of Myanmar’s Rakhine state has ‘stopped functioning’, and predicted famine could impact 2 million people in the state by 2025 if no action is taken, with the stateless Rohingya people particularly at risk. The number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Rakhine state has increased by more than 60% since October 2023, according to UNDP, with more than 500,000 IDPs entirely dependent on aid.
What The Arakan Army’s Rise Means For The Rohingya – Analysis
The international community has a role to play in shaping Rakhine’s future. Diplomatic engagement with the Arakan Army should prioritize the protection of minority rights and the establishment of inclusive governance.
Abuse, conscription, drug addiction: Myanmar refugees speak of life in Shan State
What The Arakan Army’s Rise Means For The Rohingya
Fortify Rights, For a peaceful Rakhine, the AA must right past and present wrongs
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to hold a high-level conference on the situation of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar in 2025, aimed at finding sustainable solutions and agreement on a timeframe for the voluntary repatriation of more than 1.2 million Rohingya refugees in camps in Bangladesh. The resolution on ‘The situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar’, sponsored jointly by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the European Union, was adopted by a consensus of 106 countries.
Bangladesh:
UNHCR & Government of Bangladesh reports number of 1.004.986 Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh
Help the Rohingya help themselves: ‘The world must change its perception of Rohingya. They are not helpless victims. They are capable, resilient individuals.’
Reuters reported between 3,000 and 5,000 Rohingya refugees have been recruited to fight in Myanmar’s civil war by insurgent groups inside camps in Bangladesh. Many Rohingya refugees have reportedly joined groups allied with Myanmar’s military to fight the Arakan Army in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, which was home to many of the refugees before they fled to Bangladesh.
UNHCR and Refuge, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) report, 18,192 people reportedly arrived in camps (5,028 families) as of 7th October 2024. It reports that 97% of the new arrivals are residing with registered families; 74% of them are women and children, 15% of households reported missing members, and 33 % of households with special needs.
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) has formally sent its communication to the Bangladeshi administration, requiring them to respond in due course to allegations of arbitrary detention, torture, and enforced disappearance. This is the first time such a case concerning a Rohingya spokesperson, Dil Mohammed, has reached this level of international scrutiny.
Australia:
ASF17 v Commonwealth and the illusion of choice
ASF17 v Commonwealth [2024] HCA 19 (ASF17 v Commonwealth) is the latest judgment of the High Court of Australia in the hotly contested space of immigration detention. With this case, the High Court reaffirmed that indefinite immigration detention remains available in Australia. Its permissible use has narrowed, however, when compared with the law prior to the High Court’s ruling in NZYQ v Minister for Immigration [2023] HCA 37 (NZYQ).
The Monthly (podcast), ‘The lives of asylum seekers on Nauru’, 29 November 2024, reported on Australia’s offshore detention policies, highlighting the difficult living conditions of the approximately 100 asylum seekers remaining in Nauru.
ABC (audio), ‘Gov offers payments to leave Australia’, 28 November 2024The federal government has begun offering financial incentives to people in immigration detention to leave the country voluntarily, with some detainees reporting feeling pressured to accept the payments.
The Politics of Refugee Resettlement in the Asia Pacific: Belonging and ICT-enabled Transnational Settlement. Less than 1 per cent of refugees globally are able to access resettlement pathways every year, we present the implications of ICT-enabled transnational settlement, using New Zealand and Australia’s refugee resettlement programmes.
High Court ruled government’s restrictions on freed immigration detainees unconstitutional, Government plans to introduce urgent legislation after High Court ruling
‘Australia operates “immigration prisons”, human rights lawyer tells UN’: In a closed hearing, Alison Battisson says country has a ‘terrifying’ record of detaining people unlawfully for indefinite periods.
A study from the University of New South Wales found that asylum seekers held in offshore detention face a 20-times greater risk of developing PTSD compared to those not detained or held onshore for less than six months. The research highlights the severe psychological harm caused by offshore detention conditions, with detainees also significantly more likely to experience depression and suicidal ideation.
Advocates have criticised the Australian government's handling of asylum seekers held in Nauru, highlighting inadequate financial support, poor living conditions and lack of access to healthcare.
The Vicious Cycle of Migration Criminalisation: Rather than fostering security, restrictive measures such as the criminalisation of migration create a vicious cycle of insecurity and irregularity. So why do states increasingly turn to these measures?
‘How Rohingya activists are using art, food and storytelling as a form of resistance’
'Overlooked' children of asylum seekers blocked from university study Children of asylum seekers feel frustrated and cut off from chasing their dream careers. Despite completing schooling in Australia, they are counted as "international students" at university and often cannot afford to pay full fees.
Other:
Mekong Watch, End Japan’s loans to Tatmadaw
‘Papua New Guinea has an obligation to refugees’, The National
Nine Sri Lankan refugees who had fled from the Mandapam refugee camp in India’s Tamil Nadu state were caught by the Sri Lankan navy in a boat near Neduntheevu Island off the country’s northern coast. The refugees had arrived in India by boat between 2022 and 2023 during the economic crisis in Sri Lanka.
Global Immigration Detention Observatory Geneva Advocacy Week: In November GDP hosted partners, met with international organisations and human rights monitoring bodies to discuss progress on the campaign to establish an independent international monitoring mechanism to investigate deaths, enforced disappearances, torture, and other grave human rights violations faced by people in transit across international borders. Abdul Aziz Muhamat, GDP statement during 57th HRC session Toward Ending Immigration Detention for Asylum Seekers and Refugees.
Reports & Publications
Open Access Publication: Refugee Protection in Southeast Asia: Between Humanitarianism and Sovereignty, by Susan Kneebone, Reyvi Mariñas, Antje Missbach, Max Walden.
This book includes the continued analysis of developments at APRRN by Savitri Taylor: The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network and the Promotion of Refugee Rights in Southeast Asia.
New Guidance Note: Designing Events for Locally-Led Development - from local actors on designing events on locally-led development, with local actors, by local actors, and for local actors.
Participatory philanthropy in Asia-Pacific – a case study of an RLO-to-RLO fund:
What does participatory philanthropy look like in practice? This article discusses the process of setting up the Asia Pacific Network of Refugees (APNOR) pooled fund for refugee-led organisations in the region.
Hafsar was featured in a video combatting misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech. The video was co-produced by the Association for Progressive Communication (APC), Rohingya Maiyafuinor Collaborative Network (RMCN) and APRRN. Watch the video here
Lessons from the Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative’s grant-making model
Independent research into the practices of the Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative (RRLI) identified the value and impact of its participatory grant-making approach as well as opportunities to deepen accessibility and accountability.
The benefits of enabling Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh to access banking systems
Access to formal banking systems would enable Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh to receive remittances through legal channels. This would bring benefits for the refugees, the humanitarian response, and Bangladesh’s economy and security.
Disinformation and identity-based violence: This article illustrates the unique ways that disinformation can be weaponized to foment fear, hatred, and violence against marginalized populations in Myanmar. Social media is not an inherently liberating technology but can be weaponized by governments to control the information space, suppress human rights, and incite violence.
UNHCR's Refugee Advisory Board on priorities for RLOs, and what UNHCR can do to provide that support. See: Briefing note on the Task Team and its Advisory Board on Engagement with organizations led by displaced and stateless persons
Peace Direct, The Problem with Partnerships - podcast and tools
An excellent opportunity for young refugees who live in Malaysia, India, or Thailand to study in Australia. Applications close on 29 December 2024. If you know anyone who meets these requirements, please send this to them, and please circulate through your networks.
To be eligible for the RSSP 2025 intake you must:
- Be registered with UNHCR.
- Live in Malaysia, India, or Thailand.
- Be 18-30 years of age.
- Have completed Secondary School (Years 11 and 12) or an equivalent program.
- Not have completed a postgraduate degree (Master's or Doctorate).
- Be able to study and communicate competently in English (minimum requirements depend on the course).
- Be willing to travel to Australia on your own.
- Meet additional academic criteria requirements relevant to the course (we will advise you of additional requirements if you are shortlisted for the program).
What is a Fiscal Sponsor?
You might have seen in some open calls we share that you need to partner with an established or registered organization to receive funding—this is called fiscal sponsorship. A fiscal sponsor is an established non-profit that allows smaller or new projects—especially those in the Global South that aren’t yet registered—to access funding.
Through the sponsor’s non-profit status, these projects can receive grants and donations they otherwise couldn’t. This setup lets organizations focus on their work without the time and expense of becoming a registered non-profit, while the sponsor usually takes a small fee from any funds received. It’s ideal for grassroots projects looking to secure funding and get started quickly.
You can find more information here:
Fiscal Sponsorship: What Nonprofits Need To Know About Starting It
Is Fiscal Sponsorship Right for You?
Example: Fiscal Sponsorship by Panorama Global
FREE Access UNHCR’s online self-paced e-learning courses on Age gender and diversity - LGBTIQ+ issues - Disability inclusion - Country of origin (COI) - Refugee status determination - Interviewing for protection - Asylum capacity development - Fundamentals of immigration detention - Trafficking & smuggling learning programme - Protection of migrants and refugees moving by the sea - Introduction to mixed movements - IDP law and policy - Accountability to affected people - Social media for community-based protection - Best interests procedure - Third country solutions
Take the e-learning course on UNHCR-funded partnerships (APRRN and ICVA pushed for more transparency on this since 2021 Asia Pacific Regional NGO consultations).
Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) Launches Coalition for Green Skills Pathways to Integrate Refugees into the Green Economy Over the next three years, TBB and the coalition partners aim to relocate 10,000 skilled workers and their families—20,000 people—laying the foundation for expanded opportunities and advancing sustainability goals.
UNHCR launches $10 billion appeal
UNHCR anticipates that the Asia-Pacific region in 2025 could face increased displacement due to conflict, persecution, climate change impacts and yet more disasters. It projects a rise in the complexity and scale of emergencies, compounded by diminishing donor support, which threatens to fall short of escalating needs. In response, UNHCR will focus on fulfilling the pledges from the Global Refugee Forum, including more than 60 commitments from States to strengthen protections and find solutions for Afghan refugees and stateless Rohingya populations.
Awards and Prizes
Global || 
Crisis Response
USD 1M || 
Not specified || 
EN
The Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity is a global humanitarian award. Its mission is to recognize and support those who risk their own lives to save the lives of others suffering due to violent conflict or atrocity crimes.
Funding opportunities
The Embassy of Japan in Thailand offers 130,000 USD Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects in Thailand. Focus:
- Projects that are highly beneficial at the grass-roots level
- Project that are highly effective from small scale support
- Project that require quickly support on humanitarian grounds etc.
- Supporting activities in connection with anti-personnel landmines (Anti-personnel landmine GGP).
Deadline 14 February 2025
CFAs: LiftHER Programme to Empower Women and Girls in Australia and Asia (Cohort 2)
LIFTWOMEN Group is seeking 9 visionary, impact-driven female entrepreneurs to join our next cohort and make a lasting difference. Each selected finalist will receive a comprehensive support package valued at AU$5,000, which includes an 8-week Crowdfunding Accelerator Program, 1-year Lift Angel membership, personalized mentorship, marketing and PR support, and a round-trip ticket to Melbourne. Finalists will then have the opportunity to pitch live in Melbourne for one of four prestigious awards, each offering an AU$10,000 grant in non-dilutive funding.
Deadline: 3rd January 2025.
L’Initiative is seeking proposals from NGOs in Cambodia, Laos, Burma(Myanmar), Thailand, or Viet Nam working to strengthen the role of key and Vulnerable Populations in relation to HIV, tuberculosis and/or malaria to improve their health and well-being. Project duration: 36 to 48 months. Possible grant amount: Between €650,000 and €3,500,000. Deadline for Letters of Intent: 21 January 2025
Global || Human Rights
Not specified || Dec 31 || EN, ES, AR, FR, RU, ZH
INDIVIDUAL human rights defender (HRDs) living in exile or internally displaced within their home country.
Mental Health and Wellbeing of Young People Program, seeks bold prevention and promotion ideas to meet the mental health needs of the most underserved 10- to 24-year-olds, funding culturally sensitive, community driven, youth-friendly, innovative approaches that account for the complex social, cultural and environmental drivers contributing to young people’s mental health and wellbeing in India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Vietnam.
Proof of Concept: up to $250,000 CAD over 15 - 24 months
Transition to Scale: $300,000 CAD to $1,500,000 CAD over 12–48 months.
Ecosystem Catalyst: between CAD $200,000 - $300,000 over 24 months.
Deadline: 8 January 2025