On 1 July, Amrita and Klaus met in person with Helena Olsson, Country Director - Afghanistan at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute in Lund, Sweden, where they exchanged priorities and explored possible collaboration on a number of human rights issues in Afghanistan and in neighbouring countries, including forced displacement and the current trend of forced return.

 

On 22 July, we had our second Steering Committee (SC) meeting in which Hafsar and Klaus provided an overview of current advocacy and capacity building work and plans, and where Steering Committee members provided an update on activities in their respective working groups. The upcoming 10th Asia Pacific Consultation on Refugee Rights (APCRR10) was also discussed.

 

Please put this date in your diaries! Tuesday 23 September 12.00-15.00 Bangkok time

APCRR10 will be happening soon, and on 23 September, we will have our General Assembly (first part of the APCRR10), followed by an in-person meeting in Bangkok in November with the new Steering Committee. The nomination and voting process is underway - we have already made a call for nominations for thematic working groups, and soon we will be back with more information. We are also pleased that we have a new Election Committee consisting of Pilkyu Hwang, based in South Korea, Priyanca Mathur, based in India, and Alice Nah, based in the UK.

We are very grateful that Pillkyu, Priyanca, and Alice – all long-standing members of APRRN - have agreed to work with us on the nomination and election processes. 

 

In 2025, we have been working to improve our accountability to our members by improving how we record and monitor our impact, and specifically how our activities contribute to the advocacy priorities set out by members in the last APCRR 9. Between January - June 2025, our activities and advocacy have focused on General refugee rights (19%), Right to Work/education (18%), Meaningful Refugee Participation (13%), National Systems & Legal pathways (13%), Rohingya &Myanmar (12%).  This is followed by immigration detention / refoulement (7%) and Gender, Women's Rights, Youth, LGBTQI, Malaysia, Afghanistan (1-3%). 

 

APRRN is deeply saddened by the loss of Ravi Hemadri. For over 25 years, Ravi dedicated his life to community mobilisation, training, advocacy, and research. Our community of practitioners and advocates working on the rights of refugees and other vulnerable people on the move in the Asia Pacific has lost a friend and colleague. But his legacy will continue to inspire those who worked with him. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones.

One of our past collaborations with Ravi Hemadri includes: Webinar by the Rohingya Human Rights Initiative: Detention and other Humanitarian Challenges Faced by Rohingya Refugees” in India on 18 Aug 2023. 

 

The Asia-Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) secretariat held a webinar with the Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative (RSRI) on Refugee Self-Reliance and Labor Rights in Asia-Pacific: Lessons from Local to Global! This collaborative session explored the challenges and strategies surrounding labor and workers’ rights for refugees. It focused on increasing self-reliance and addressing exclusion and exploitation at various levels. While there were global components, the session primarily focused on the Asia-Pacific region. Watch the webinar.

 

Ali Reza Yawari of the APRRN Secretariat, in an interview with the independent journalist, Duncan Graham, spoke about the situation of refugees in Indonesia and contributed to the information in the article: The penalty for being late is to be doomed forever.

 

Hafsar and Lars from the APRRN secretariat joined the discussion with the UNHCR regional bureau on the focused thematic areas and format of the UNHCR regional consultation, which will take place on 17 and 18 September in a hybrid format. The survey seeking inputs for the consultation has been shared with our members and others.

 

Members Spotlight!

Basic Education Reform & Development Foundation (BERD) has been actively working to support refugees and displaced communities in Pakistan by focusing on their most pressing needs like safety, dignity, and opportunities to rebuild their lives. BERD Foundation supports refugees in earning sustainable livelihoods and meeting their monthly food needs in special cases. This kind of support is crucial in refugee camps and host communities where economic opportunities are limited. BERD Foundation works closely with local partners, international NGOs, and community leaders to ensure that these programs are effective and inclusive. Apart from supporting refugees, the BERD Foundation is implementing various projects in Pakistan, focusing on WASH, Education, Local Area Development, Skill Development, and climate resilience. Visit Website

 

News from the region

Afghanistan: 

More than a million Afghans forced back from Iran face poverty and an uncertain future. OCHA Asia-Pacific Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot for 15 - 21 July 2025, “Over 1.4 million Afghans returned from Iran and Pakistan in 2025 amid rising tensions and deportations, including 1,080,000 from Iran and 332,000 from Pakistan, according to IOM and UNHCR. Between 1 and 12 July, 339,000 Afghans returned from Iran, straining resources in western provinces. Returns from Pakistan continue to be driven by the implementation of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan, affecting Afghan Citizen Card holders, undocumented people, and some refugees, including Proof of Registration (PoR) cardholders, but limited funding hampers aid efforts. US$10 million was allocated by Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, to assist with the severe humanitarian needs, including protection, livelihoods, WASH, healthcare, and shelter.

 

The Second Phase of Forced Returns from Pakistan: Afghans tell stories of hardship and misery. 

 

Afghanistan | Population Movement (Returnees) Operation Update.

 

UNHCR: A chaotic wave of returnees from Iran and Pakistan is straining Afghanistan’s already fragile capacity under Taliban rule and threatening broader regional stability, said the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, on Friday.

 

UN Women: Gender Alert: Gendered Needs and Challenges of Afghans Returning from Iran and Pakistan (June 2025). 

 

UNHCR’s ‘on the brink’ report outlines that 251,000 people forced to flee in Afghanistan are at risk of losing direct assistance in 2025. The United Arab Emirates has begun a large-scale Afghan deportation, sending home nationals who were temporarily housed during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Emirati officials confirmed that the repatriation process started on July 10. 

 

FIDH statement, Afghanistan/Iran/Pakistan: Mass refoulement of Afghan refugees a systematic violation of human rights amid inaction by international agencies.“call on the governments of Iran and Pakistan to: Immediately halt the mass deportation of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers; Uphold the principle of non-refoulement; Cooperate transparently and effectively with human rights organisations and UN agencies.

 

Afghanistan/Iran/Pakistan: Mass refoulement of Afghan refugees is a systematic violation of human rights amid inaction by international agencies. A US Appeals Court temporarily halted the withdrawal of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for some 12,000 Afghans living legally in the US, after a legal challenge by the immigration advocacy group Casa. 

The court granted an administrative stay a few hours before TPS was due to expire on 14 July, as previously announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in April. The Trump administration has until the end of 23 July to respond, UNHCR says the number of Afghans crossing the border has intensified since mid-June, with tens of thousands of people crossing the border in a single day.

 

US President Donald Trump said on social media that he would ‘try to save’ Afghan refugees stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since 2021, when the US withdrew its forces from Afghanistan and the Taliban took power. Trump’s post came after a news website reported the UAE plans to deport some Afghan evacuees. A later report by Reuters claimed the UAE government had told the US it had started returning Afghans several days before Trump’s post. Afghanistan Can’t Handle Another Refugee Crisis.

 

IRAN: 

Iran uses Israeli bombings to speed up Afghan expulsions, 21 July 2025. “They would find any way to threaten you with arrest and keep demanding larger and larger amounts of money. The Iranian government and public have long been accused of abuse, violence, discrimination, and racism towards Afghans, but Israel’s 12-day bombing campaign only worsened the anti-Afghan sentiment. Tehran, which had already been deporting Afghans by the hundreds of thousands for years, began to accuse Afghans of spying for Israel.”

 

From sanctuary to scapegoat: Iran's deportation crackdown sees mass exodus of Afghans.

“In one of the largest expulsions in modern history, four million Afghans face deportation as Iran launches a mass security crackdown after its war with Israel… Even Afghans with valid residency permits and visas are being detained and forcibly expelled in the current wave of deportations. … Norwegian Refugee Council in Afghanistan, noted three reasons that have motivated Afghan families to flee Iran: First, there’s the fear of war. Then, there’s growing negative sentiment against Afghans. And finally, Iran’s new policy shows a tougher approach to those without proper papers”.

 

Center for Human Rights in Iran, Iran Forcibly Deports Nearly 600,000 Afghan Migrants Amid Post-War Crackdown.

“More than 1 million Afghan migrants have been deported from Iran since the beginning of 2025, with nearly 600,000 returned since June 1. At least 70% of these individuals were forcibly removed. Alarmingly, children make up approximately 25% of those deported. 

 

OHCHR, Iran: UN Fact-Finding Mission, Special Rapporteur call for civilian protection and respect for human rights as Israeli attacks cause extensive suffering.

 

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Armanshahr | OPEN ASIA, the League for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI), and the Afghanistan Democracy and Development Organization (ADDO) joint press release: Mass Refoulement of Afghan Refugees by Iran and Pakistan. As Iran expels Afghan refugees, many women again face 'no prospect of a free life'. “The mass deportation is raising concerns about what fate awaits women and girls forced to return to life under the Taliban regime. Iran is home to an estimated 4 million Afghan migrants and refugees. Many have lived there for decades. But since the start of this year, over 1.2 million people have been expelled”.

 

Pakistan:

Pakistan Will Not Renew Afghan Refugee ID Cards, Minister Confirms.

On 31 July 2025, Pakistani authorities issued Repatriation and Deportation Orders, invalidating PoR cards that expired on 30 June 2025, leaving more than 1.3 million documented refugees stateless and vulnerable. Pakistan is home to over 3 million Afghans, including PoR and ACC holders, asylum seekers, and the undocumented—all now facing removal without guarantees of safety. 

 

The Joint Action Committee for Refugees (JAC-R) drafted the following Solidarity Statement, inviting concerned individuals, lawyers, journalists, activists, and organisations to sign and stand - calling for the protection of Afghan refugees’ rights and an immediate halt to unlawful deportations.

 

Pakistani Police Intensify Arrests of Afghan Refugees in Islamabad, Including U.S. P1 and P2 Cases. “Awaiting relocation under the U.S. resettlement program. Many of them are U.S. allies, and their detention has deepened fears among applicants who fled persecution and remain stranded in Pakistan. 

 

Temporary Suspension of Deportation of Afghan Refugees Holding PoR Cards from Pakistan. “Pakistani authorities are currently reviewing the extension of the June 30, 2025, deadline. Pakistan’s judicial authorities will make the final decision on whether to extend …While the deportation process for PoR card holders has been paused, the deportation of Afghan migrants without valid residency documents or visas continues. From September 15, 2023, to June 15, 2025, a total of 1,094,489 Afghan migrants have been deported.”

 

Indonesia:

Bibi’s father sold everything to save his daughter. He died before he could see her live. “More than 200 of the 5000-plus refugees stuck indefinitely in Indonesia demonstrated peacefully outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta. They requested politicians in Canberra amend rules rejecting the resettlement of refugees who arrived in Indonesia after July 1, 2014 – a policy designed to discourage desperate people landing on Australia’s doorstep.”

 

Thailand: 

More than 135,000 people were displaced from areas near the Thailand-Cambodia border, as clashes broke out between the two countries’ forces in an escalating border dispute. At least 14 people in Thailand and one in Cambodia were killed in the fighting, which Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai warned ‘could escalate into a state of war’.

 

Brief summary of the proposed approach to assist Myanmar refugees in the 9 refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border due to the funding reduction:

Short term: Use emergency central budget funds to provide humanitarian assistance.
Medium term: Allow refugees to work, build their self-reliance, and reduce dependence on external aid.
Long term: Develop their legal status so they can become part of Thai society and contribute to Thailand’s development.

While many details still need to be worked out, if implemented along these general lines, this approach could turn the crisis into an opportunity for Thailand’s development—and position the country as a genuine global leader in refugee solutions.

Cr. The Reporters - https://lnkd.in/g8WU5kNk

 

Thai-Cambodia conflict: More than 135,000 people were displaced from areas near the Thailand-Cambodia border, as clashes broke out between the two countries’ forces in an escalating border dispute. At least 14 people in Thailand and one in Cambodia were killed in the fighting, which Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai warned ‘could escalate into a state of war’.

 

The new rule allows citizenship for many stateless people in Thailand. “Thai citizenship can now be granted to individuals born in Thailand to stateless parents whose personal data is recorded in official population surveys conducted up to 1999; and to stateless persons identified in surveys between 2005 and 2011 under the Strategic Plan to Address Legal Status and Rights Issues.”

 

Thailand’s refugee system puts publicity over protection. “Thailand's National Screening Mechanism, implemented in September 2023, has granted protection to only seven individuals, yet it is considerably boosting the country's humanitarian reputation internationally. The system avoids international legal obligations by refusing to use refugee terminology and maintains security-focused priorities. Rather than genuine protection, the mechanism serves Thailand's diplomatic needs following previous international criticism.”

 

Authorities Abuse, Exploit Myanmar Nationals - Introduce Temporary Protection Regime; Recognize Refugee Status. “Thai authorities are threatening, extorting, and detaining Myanmar nationals who have fled the abusive military junta to seek safety in Thailand. /   The only way most Myanmar nationals can get legal status is as a migrant worker, who are excluded from a recent Thai government move to provide protection to some refugees. /  The Thai government should introduce a temporary protection regime for Myanmar nationals.”

Watch the FCCT Launch event of the HRW report, here

 

PARLIAMENT: The Security Committee receives a letter from the ‘border civil society and networks’ urging the government to urgently find a solution for war refugees after the budget for assistance was cut, indicating a proposal to open the way to a fair and sustainable Thai labor system.  

“Mr. Rangsiman Rome, MP as chairman of the Committee on State Security, Thai Border Affairs, National Strategy and National Reform (Committee), … said that today, the House Committee on Security would … invite the National Security Council, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labor, and the Governor of Tak Province to consider this matter. He emphasized that in the past, the House Committee had considered this matter and sent proposals to various agencies, but there was still a need for continuous meetings to find practical guidelines.”

 

Malaysia:

Will Refugees Finally Gain Access To Basic Services? “The Home Ministry has announced plans to introduce a national refugee registration system known as the Refugee and Asylum Seeker Database, or DPP. Will this pave the way for greater rights and protections for refugees in Malaysia?”

 

Refugees at Work, ending exploitation and advancing justice.

 

India:

India deports hundreds of Bengali Muslims to Bangladesh without due process:

“India’s BJP-led government has expelled hundreds of ethnic Bengali Muslims—many confirmed as Indian citizens—to Bangladesh without due process, falsely labelling them illegal immigrants. Human Rights Watch and the UN condemn these actions as violations of international law, citing coerced deportations, including at gunpoint, and systemic denial of legal recourse. The Hindu nationalist administration has intensified anti-Muslim operations, targeting even Rohingya refugees, under the guise of border control. Victims report abuse and forced crossings, reflecting a broader agenda to marginalise Muslim communities. These expulsions breach India’s human rights obligations and undermine its historic asylum legacy. Critics warn the campaign weaponises citizenship laws to entrench religious discrimination, with no accountability for wrongful deportations. The crisis exposes state-sanctioned Islamophobia under the BJP’s Hindu nationalist policies.”

 

Hundreds of Muslims Unlawfully Expelled to Bangladesh.

“Border Guard Bangladesh has reported that India expelled more than 1,500 Muslim men, women, and children to Bangladesh between May 7 and June 15, including about 100 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. The expulsions have continued. … In May, Indian authorities also expelled about 100 Rohingya refugees from a detention center in Assam across the Bangladesh border. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported that the authorities forced another 40 Rohingya refugees into the sea near Myanmar, giving them life jackets and making them swim to shore in what the UN special rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, called “an affront to human decency.” 

Andrews said the incident was also “a serious violation” of the principle of nonrefoulement, the international legal prohibition against returning people to a territory where they face threats to their lives or freedom. 

 

The Indian Supreme Court refused in early May to block deportations of Rohingya refugees, saying that if they are found to be foreigners under Indian law, they must be deported. On May 16, in response to the account of Rohingya forced into the sea, the court said there was no evidence to support these allegations, claiming this was a “beautifully crafted story.” However, the Indian government has not denied the allegations.”

 

185 displaced persons granted Indian citizenship under CAA in Gujarat, Beneficiaries from Pakistan receive citizenship certificates in Rajkot after years of waiting; Gujarat Minister calls it “restoration of dignity and rights”

 

Thousands of refugees flee into India's Mizoram state after clashes in Myanmar. “(around 4,000) Refugees have been crossing into Mizoram since July 2, when clashes between two rival Chin groups — the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) and the Chinland Defence Force-Hualngoram (CDF-H) — erupted over control of strategic areas in Myanmar’s northwestern Chin State”.

 

India Renews Efforts to Remove “Illegal Foreigners” in the Wake of Pahalgam Terrorist Attack. Since the Pahalgam terrorist attacks in Kashmir in April, anti-Islamic public and official attitudes across India have led to important ethnic groups in the country–including Rohingya and Bengali-speaking Muslims–being targeted for racial violence and increasing detention and deportation operations. The resurgence in Hindu nationalist-driven racial violence follows years of efforts by the government to present non-Hindus as internal security threats.  

 

In a joint urgent appeal to the Special Rapporteur last year, the GDP, the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network, and civil society partners in India urged him to address the ill treatment of Myanmar refugees India. Mr Andrews’s March 2025 letter to the Indian government echoes many of the recommendations in our urgent appeal, including repeating our call for India to immediately cease the arbitrary detention of Myanmar refugees and improving access to detention centres by independent monitors.”

 

End Unlawful Expulsion of Indian Muslim Citizens and Rohingya Refugees. 

 

Myanmar:  

Political Update: Myanmar’s military junta has announced that general elections will be held in four phases between December 2025 and January 2026, in 267 out of 330 townships. Voting will be limited to areas deemed “secure,” with a mix of First Past the Post and Proportional Representation systems.

Situation Update: Armed clashes between the military and non-state armed groups intensified in June across at least 10 states and regions, particularly Bago, Kayin, Mon, Sagaing, and Shan (north and south). Military operations appear aimed at reasserting control, while resistance forces maintain pressure. Civilians continue to face heightened protection risks from conflict, including aerial strikes and artillery use in populated areas. Heavy monsoon rains and flooding since late May have compounded challenges, displacing thousands and worsening shelter conditions.

Cross-Border Displacement: Over 184,600 individuals have fled Myanmar since the February 2021 coup, primarily to Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, and Thailand. The total number of refugees and asylum-seekers from Myanmar in the region now exceeds 1.48 million, underscoring the protracted nature of the crisis and the need to preserve protection space across host countries. 

New Appeals in Bangladesh: Two appeals were launched on 15 July to address funding shortfalls for the Rohingya response in Bangladesh. This includes a Flash Appeal seeking USD84 million to meet the needs of up to 150,000 new arrivals from Myanmar, and a reprioritized "First Priority Needs" appeal under the JRP seeking USD 455.6 million to address critical shortfalls, with the JRP currently only 22% funded. 

Operational Impact of Funding Cuts: In Cox’s Bazar, funding reductions are impacting essential services, including the termination of 1,200 teaching contracts. Youth frustration and lack of opportunity are emerging as pressing concerns, as highlighted by Mohammed Yunus during a recent visit to the UK, where he underscored the critical funding needs for the response.  

Refoulement and protection risks: In Bangladesh, pushbacks continue to be reported, while in India, deportations without due process, arrests, and internal relocations highlight the precarious situation of refugees.  

• Returns to Myanmar: Returns remain very limited and informal. Conditions in Rakhine do not meet international standards for safe, dignified, and voluntary return. 

• Maritime Movements: Irregular sea movements continue to result in tragic losses, as seen in May with two boats capsizing off Myanmar's coast. These journeys reflect desperation and a lack of safe alternatives. 

• Solutions and Resettlement: Modest resettlement of Rohingya from the region continues. While progress is limited, third-country solutions and national pathways—such as Thailand’s new regulation enabling 140,000 stateless persons to apply for citizenship—represent meaningful steps forward. 

• High-Level Conference on Rohingya: The UN General Assembly President’s Office is leading preparations for the high-level event, which is confirmed for 30 September in New York. Consultations with the  Rohingya civil society are being organized by the Government of Bangladesh, with the view to seeking broad stakeholder engagement in Cox’s Bazar. Registration for the event is not yet open, though non-ECOSOC-accredited organisations have had the chance to register. 

 

Listen to Phyu Phyu Oo, Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Myanmar: The Role of the State, presentation.

 

ALTSEAN CoupWatch for June 2025: "Junta pursues bogus election while economy crumbles".

 

International Criminal Court: Investigate Arakan Army War Crimes Against Rohingya. 

 

What is the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, and how does it work?

 

Bangladesh: 

Watch GSLC, BLAST, Global Workshop on Access to Citizenship, including refugee birth registration in Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Korea, Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa.

 

UNHCR warned that Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh face increased risks from the approaching monsoon season due to funding cuts, which are undermining already over-stretched humanitarian support responses, and forcing cuts in community-led livelihood programs to maintain critical infrastructure in the camps.

 

Strategic ambiguity and International Crisis Group’s Rohingya report, “The report circles the camp, catalogues every rogue speech and shadowy outfit, yet steps carefully around the biggest actor shaping them all: Bangladeshi state policy.”

 

Bangladesh has welcomed 150,000 Rohingya refugees in the last 18 months. “Targeted violence and persecution in Rakhine State and the ongoing conflict in Myanmar have continued to force thousands of Rohingya to seek protection in Bangladesh. This movement of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh, spread over months, is the largest from Myanmar since 2017”.

 

Watch TheFortTalks with Bangladeshi journalist Tanbirul Miraj Ripon and Fortify Rights' John Quinley for a conversation on Bangladesh’s political and human rights situation. “The conversation highlighted the need for accountability for protest-related killings, the upcoming elections, and ending Bangladesh’s cycle of political violence.”

 

Australia:

How Australia became home to a million refugees.

 

'Save us from this hopeless situation': Afghan refugee calls on Australia to protect his family. “Ahmad and his family have spent the past three and a half years living in limbo after fleeing the Taliban for Pakistan. He has now waited more than 42 months to hear a response to his Refugee and Humanitarian visa application from the Australian government. As Pakistani authorities boost efforts to deport migrants like Ahmad's family back to Afghanistan, he fears persecution and even death at the hands of the Taliban.”

 

12 years on, are we not yet tired of cruel policies towards asylum-seekers?

 

Calls for the Australian government to fast-track visas as Afghan refugees are ordered out of Iran. “As the Iranian government orders millions of refugees to return back to Afghanistan, their families in Australia have raised concerns about what fate awaits them under the Taliban regime. Amnesty International is calling on the Australian government to fast-track the visas of those affiliated with the previous Afghan government, before it's too late.”

 

Behrouz Boochani and Arnold Zable on the radical act of friendship.

 

Ahmad’s wife and three kids all have Australian visas. They still can’t come in.

 

‘Refugees protest on 12th anniversary of Kevin Rudd’s ‘PNG solution’. Protestors marked the 12th anniversary of former Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s prohibition on resettling refugees who arrive by sea, which remains Australian policy.

 

OTHER 

Forced from Bhutan, deported by the US: these stateless Himalayan people are in a unique limbo. More than two dozen refugees from Bhutan have been left in a unique legal limbo after they were deported by the US back to the tiny Himalayan nation they once fled – only for it to reject them a second time.

 

A refugee deported to Bhutan by the U.S. finds himself stranded and stateless.

 

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR launched a program to boost employment for displaced people in the Asia-Pacific region, funded by the Australian government for an initial 22-month period. The program will provide selected refugees with skills training tailored to sectors with labour shortages, aligned to medium- to long-term employment needs in Australia and other countries.

 

According to a new report from UNHCR, up to 11.6 million refugees and displaced people may lose direct assistance from UNHCR this year as a result of cuts in global aid funding, amounting to about one-third of the number of people supported by the agency last year. UNHCR said it has been forced to cut or suspend US$1.4 billion in essential programs, including cuts of 60% in emergency relief to countries such as Sudan, Chad, and Afghanistan, with only 23% of its total funding requirement for this year of US$10.6 billion currently fulfilled. Media outlets reported that the funding crisis has been compounded by reductions in humanitarian aid from the US, which contributed more than 40% of UNHCR’s funding last year.

 

Reports & Publications

 

Harnessing Possibilities and Synergies to Refugee Complementary Migration Pathways in Australia: A Multiple Streams Analysis
 

‘Who is an acceptable migrant?’, The New Statesman.
 

‘Australia’s multiculturalism lives mostly on the surface. Inclusion without voice is tokenism.’
 

‘Twelve years later, $13 billion, no plan: Offshore processing drags into its thirteenth year’.
 

A Route-Based Approach: Strengthening Protection and Solutions in the Context of Mixed Movements of Refugees and Migrants. 

 

‘12 years on, Australia’s cruel offshore detention policies continue to leave refugees in limbo with no hope for the future’.
 

Why refugee-led organisations are key to the humanitarian reset. For too long, refugees and RLOs have been sidelined by governments, refugee agencies, and donors – despite being key to understanding and overcoming the barriers to refugee inclusion. Reflections on situations similar to Bangladesh Camps in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. 
 

UNHCR Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) Accountability Report for 2024, AGD policy can be found here.

 

Independent Declaration on the Right of Refugees and Others Experiencing Displacement or Statelessness to Participate in Decisions that Affect Them. Feedback: Open until 20 August. Review the draft: With detailed commentary / Without commentary.

 

Returning to Afghanistan, She Reclaimed Her Daughter’s Future.

 

4 September (11:00–12:00 CEST) Countering misinformation about refugees and migrants: An evidence-based framework. Register here for the hybrid seminar on how to respond to false claims. This session is designed to help you know what to do and when.

 

17-18 September,  2025 UNHCR Regional NGO Consultations 

Invitation to CSOs to shape the preparation of the 2025 Regional Consultations with NGOS - Asia and the Pacific Pre-consultation via Survey Questionnaire

Pubic Link: https://forms.office.com/e/iU8ePa6zZ5     

This survey supports the design of the 2025 UNHCR Regional Consultations with NGOs in Asia and the Pacific. The main event is scheduled to take place during 17-18 September 2025 (format TBC). Our input will help validate the consultation themes, surface country-specific insights, and shape a consultation process that supports meaningful participation, co-leadership, and concrete priorities and recommendations, specific to Asia and the Pacific Region. Before beginning the survey, we kindly ask that you review the background note provided alongside this survey. The survey will take approximately 10 -15 minutes.  

 

6-10 October, UNHCR’s 76th Plenary Session of the Executive Committee (ExCom).

8-10 December – Bangkok, Thailand: Regional Humanitarian Partnership Week, Asia Pacific 2025. Details and registration, here.

The Refugee-Led Research Hub (RLRH) is launching Graduate Horizons, a global application support programme for prospective students who have been affected by displacement, eg, as refugees, asylum seekers, IDPs, and stateless, among other categories. Apply here!: https://forms.gle/bi1LK2baoQbAYVoW6.

 

8-10 December - Regional Humanitarian Partnership Week (RHPW) Asia Pacific 2025 Register here 

 

15-17 December, HLOM Global Refugee Forum Progress Review 2025 (dedicated website Roadmap, Concept, and Briefings)

• Global Refugee Forum Progress Review 2025 (Second HLOM) summary note, PowerPoint presentation, and recording of the second quarterly preparatory meeting for the GRF Progress Review 2025, on 24 June 2025. Preparatory meetings and briefings. For the concept note of the GRF Progress Review and a calendar of external, regional, and thematic stocktaking opportunities and other preparatory meetings, please consult the Global Refugee Forum Progress Review 2025 webpage.
• Join #RSpace2025 — the refugee-led convening running Dec 15–17 alongside the GRF Progress Review 2025 in Geneva (previously called the High-Level Officials Meeting, HLOM). We are seeking proposals for: Panels, roundtables, or other creative formats / Sessions that spotlight responses led by refugees and forcibly displaced individuals to humanitarian challenges / Dialogues on the Global Compact on Refugees & GRF pledges. Deadline: August 15, 2025. Apply Here

 

Course on Civil Society and Advocacy in Bangkok | 4–6 December 2025

Application Now Open:

COAST Foundation Bangladesh, in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Foundation Thailand, is pleased to announce a Learning Workshop on “Civil Society and Advocacy”, to be held in Bangkok from 4–6 December 2025, adjunct to the RHPW (Regional Humanitarian Partnership Week). This workshop aims to establish a foundational understanding of civil society and advocacy practices, focusing on practical knowledge and effective strategies.

Course Fee: US $300 (includes 3-night hotel accommodation, breakfast, lunch, two daytime refreshments with tea and coffee, river cruise dinner, and training materials), for Bangladeshi participants BDT 36,600.

How to Apply: Please find the link to the course details and application form. Upon receiving your application, we will issue a confirmation with payment instructions for the fee of US$300 (or BDT 36,600) by 31 August 2025. After confirmation, we will provide a visa support letter and hotel booking details. Seats are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Funding opportunities

UNHCR Refugee-led Innovation Fund (Grant Size: $45,000). The Refugee-led Innovation Fund is currently open to applications from organizations led by forcibly displaced or stateless people in all countries. Deadline: 22 August 2025

 

Kawamura Cultural Arts Promotion Foundation, Socially Engaged Arts Support Grant Program 2025, Japan's first socially engaged Art Support Grant Program. Deadline: 5 October 2025

 

IDRC, Connecting Indigenous Research Leadership in Canada and the Global South, Deadline: 23 September 2025

 

U.S. Embassy Dhaka Public Diplomacy Grant Program in Bangladesh, ($24,990) Deadline: 30 August 2025

 

UNESCO, Support to Girls’ Right to Education and Safeguarding Cultural Heritage through Education in Pakistan, to increase access, retention, and quality of girls’ primary education and preservation of cultural heritage in District Bahawalpur in South Punjab and District Swat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Deadline: 19 August 2025

 

Initiation Fund – WAYS: Fair & Sustainable Partnerships, €20,000–€27,000, Oceania, Central, South & Southeast Asia + Germany, Supports the creation of new international artistic collaborations between German and non-European cultural organizations. Funds up to 9.5 months of travel, meetings, and co-design of a partnership “Roadmap.” Required first step to access larger WAYS funds for multi-year projects. Only one application allowed per org. Deadline 1 October 2025

 

Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development 2025, Up to $1,000,000 (divided into 4 categories), rewarding impactful development projects aligned with the SDGs. Open to UN agencies, international/regional NGOs, national NGOs, governments, social businesses, and individuals. Focus areas include poverty, marginalization, education, health, and the well-being of women and children in developing countries.


Nominations open for Young Women in Engineering Award, Deadline: 30 November 2025
 

Visiting Fellowship opportunity for statelessness researchers, practitioners, and educators to engage with the work of the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness at the Melbourne Law School and to strengthen international collaborations, up to two months with funding up to AU$6,000. Deadline: 30 November 2025.

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Looking for a Guide to Fundraising for Grassroots Organisation, please see: “Getting the Money We Need” – A 101 Guide on Fundraising for Small Grassroots Organisations.