13-17 December, Khujesta and Hafsar from the APRRN Secretariat joined the APRRN delegation to the Global Refugee Forum progress review. During the three days in Geneva, the APRRN secretariat, together with the APRRN delegation and members, joined the Plenary Session and other side events at both CICG and Impact Hub. 

 

16 December, Hasfar spoke at the GRF Progress Review- strategic dialogue on Rohingya, along with the foreign minister of Bangladesh, Peter Elder (DFAT, Australia), Xavier Devictor (the World Bank), and other stakeholders’ representatives. During the panel discussion, the current ongoing challenges and opportunities, such as “expanded resilience and enhanced solutions” tailored to the practical and needs-based responses to the issues of Rohingya displacements in the region, while also working towards the conducive, safe, and dignified repatriation. Hafsar also joined the APRRN delegation to the embassy of Nepal, raising the concerns of protection issues of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. 

 

On 17 December, Khujesta did the intervention during the session co-organised by APRRN and Robo Co-op, “Roundtable Report: Digital Inclusion and Refugee Empowerment,” where Hafsar and Jin from Robo Co-op also spoke. During the intervention, Khujesta highlighted the greater positive impacts that refugees themselves can contribute to their own communities when opportunities and platforms are provided to them.

 

Our message for the #internationalhumanrightsday

This message honours the human rights defenders across the globe, especially those who are fighting for the freedom and democracy for all people of Myanmar, including the Rohingya. Navigating the Nexus: Integrating Climate Adaptation, Humanitarian Response, and Development in the Protracted Refugee Setting in Bangladesh.

 

On 12 December, Klaus welcomed APRRN members Julia Frei, Bradley Short and  Zam Bin Yaacob from Same Skies to our Bangkok office, where we discussed plans and priorities, ways of future collaboration and engaging with the new Steering Committee and Working Groups, and the upcoming Global Refugee Forum Review. 

 

Regional Humanitarian Partnership Week, Bangkok: 8-10 December

On 8 December, Klaus attended an event hosted by the EU Delegation to Thailand to mark International Human Rights Day: Art Exhibition: Voice for Rights, where contemporary Thai artists featured their artwork collections created by artistic mediums to spark dialogue on human rights issues in Thailand.
 

On 9 December, Klaus attended a session on humanitarian funding organised by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) at the Regional Humanitarian Partnership Week and had meetings with representatives from NRC and the Danish Refugee Council, as well as representatives from COAST, Bangladesh. Hafsar joined online and spoke at an event, organised by COAST, along with a number of APRRN members, entitled: “ Facilitating Rohingya Refugee and Citizenship Rights”

 

Klaus also had a working dinner with APRRN members from the International Detention Coalition, Mic Chawaratt, Dome Sooktawee and Carolina Gottardo, and a subsequent meeting with Carolina, who also serves on APRRN’s International Board.

 

Between 4–27 December 2025, APRRN co-organised an Advocacy and Leadership for Refugee Youth training with the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (IHRP), Mahidol University, UNSW and Rohingya Youth Union (RYU). In eight-sessions 24 Rohingya youth participants from different camps in Cox’s Bazar strengthened leadership, advocacy, and ethical engagement skills. The praxis-oriented curriculum ranged from introductions to foundational human rights and refugee law to applied advocacy planning and public campaigning (delivered by Amnesty International Thailand), resulting in increased youth confidence, stronger advocacy skills, improved understanding of refugee protection frameworks, and the formation of an informal youth advocacy network under RYU. Beyond individual outcomes, the project significantly strengthened RYU’s organisational capacity, credibility, and readiness for future partnerships and scale-up initiatives.

 

Members Spotlight!

This film was produced for an R-Space side event at the GRF Progress Review in Geneva held in December 2025. It aims to shed light on the refugee experience in Indonesia and Malaysia, and to promote the invaluable community building and service provision of refugee-led initiatives in the region, namely Emplace Initiative, HELP for Refugees, Jakarta Bersatu Project, and Refugee Learning Nest in Indonesia, and Refugee Network Centre and Teen Health International in Malaysia. It demonstrates the extraordinary initiative and ingenuity of these organisations, including their impact on the refugee communities whom they serve, their efforts at integration and relationship building with the host community, their successes and challenges, their collective learnings and joint advocacy, and their partnership with Same Skies. Watch the Film Here.

 

Statement on UNHCR’s 75th Anniversary: Kaldor Centre and Refugee Council Of Australia. Now more than ever, the world must support UNHCR to continue its life-saving work.

 

APRRN’s Deputy Chair of the Legal Aid and Advocacy Working Group, Kunanyaporn Jirasamatakij:

As we mark International Migrants Day, I would like to share my article published in FOCUS Asia-Pacific, Issue 122 (HURIGHTS OSAKA). The piece reflects on the policy environment affecting Myanmar refugees in Thailand and underscores the importance of coordinated, rights-based approaches in the region. Read More 

 

Refugee Council’s letter to Foreign Minister Penny Wong regarding reports of the Afghanistan Embassy closure. To raise our deep concerns about alarming reports of pressure from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials to close the Embassy of Afghanistan in Canberra, the Refugee Council of Australia has written to Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, Tony Burke MP, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and International Development Dr Anne Aly MP, and Minister for Women, Public Services and Government Services Senator Katy Gallagher. We are calling on the Federal Government to ensure that this closure does not happen, as Afghans in Australia would otherwise be left without vital consular and diplomatic support from the independent mission.

 

After the Shipwreck: Confronting Malaysia’s Refugee Protection Crisis.

On December 19, 2025,  The Fort organised a discussion on Malaysia’s current approach to refugees, the situation of Rohingya survivors in Thailand, and the effectiveness of the actions of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its members. Speakers explored the recent drivers of forced displacement and the impact of Malaysia’s punitive policies on refugees in the country.  You can find a recording of the event here.

 

Fortify Rights offers support for Thailand to develop legal asylum procedures. Thai Authorities, Myanmar Junta Cooperating in Forced Return, Conscription of Myanmar Nationals. 

 

The Thailand Migration Reform Consortium released the full report from the Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on Strengthening Self-Reliance for Displaced Persons (19 December 2025). The consultation was co-organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Operations Center for Displaced Persons (OCDP), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Coordinating Committee for Services to Displaced Persons in Thailand (CCSDPT), and the Thailand Migration Reform Consortium (TMR). This platform brought together actors from all sectors to discuss a critical transition—from aid-dependent assistance toward sustainable self-reliance.

 

News from the region

Afghanistan: 

Trump’s Crackdown on Afghan Refugees Will Have Dire Consequences. The shooting of two members of the National Guard has prompted the administration to impose new restrictions, and resettlement organisations are reeling.

 

Indonesia:

The Green Hell of Indonesia: Mental Health Crisis and Suicides Among Trapped Refugees from Afghanistan. 

 

Thailand: 

At least 23 people were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced by renewed fighting at the Thailand-Cambodia border, breaking a ceasefire agreed following five days of military clashes in July. Cambodian authorities reported nearly 275,000 citizens were relocated to official camps in addition to those who fled independently, while Thai authorities said more than 400,000 people have been evacuated from seven border provinces. Meanwhile, a report found that 72% of some 900,000 Cambodian migrant workers who fled Thailand at the outbreak of hostilities in July remain unemployed, with many experiencing mental health problems.  

 

Myanmar:  

Myanmar Junta Using New Election Law to Crack Down on Dissent Ahead of Sham Elections. The Myanmar military junta is using its new “Election Protection Law” to silence and intimidate critics ahead of its sham elections, said Fortify Rights today. The junta has announced that the first two phases of its staged elections will be on December 28, 2025, and January 11, 2026. The junta’s “elections” are already unfree and unfair and therefore lack legitimacy—many of Myanmar’s legitimately elected officials, including Aung San Suu Kyi and members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), as well as leaders of ethnic political parties, continue to be held in illegal detention, and the right to freedom of expression and speech, and almost all pro-democracy activity, is outlawed in the country.

 

Bangladesh: 

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported there are nearly five million people internally displaced in Bangladesh due to natural disasters, including cyclones, floods, river erosion and other climate-related impacts. According to the IOM’s assessment, 63% of these were displaced before April 2020, and a further 25% were displaced between April 2020 and April 2024.  

 

Australia:

A growing number of undocumented children are being born to workers who have disengaged from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme and are living in Australia either unlawfully with no visa or on a bridging visa. Mary gave birth to her son in Australia. But he has no valid legal status.

 

A United Nations delegation raised concerns about Australia's treatment of children, First Nations people, people with disabilities, and migrants in detention. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) called for urgent reform after visiting detention facilities in New South Wales, Western Australia and the ACT; however, inspectors were denied access to all Northern Territory institutions. The federal government’s recent deal with Nauru also came in for criticism. Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, said the findings show Australia is not complying with key international human rights commitments it has made to the world. See more below:

• UN inspectors again frozen out of Australian prison.
• UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention denied visits to NT prisons and meetings with the government.
• NT corrections workers are not to speak to UN human rights officials.
• Australia: UN Working Group raises major concerns about detention of indigenous people, children and migrants.
• United Nations delegation warns of Australia's treatment of prisoners, detainees and breaches in human rights.
• UN demands justice reform after Australian detention probe.
• United Nations delegation warns of Australia's treatment of prisoners, detainees and breaches in human rights.
• INTERVIEW: SBS speaks to Human Rights Commissioner as UN blocked from inspecting detention facilities (audio).

 

Fear versus facts: why migrants strengthen Australia. Australia’s multicultural society is not a modern experiment or a social crisis. It is the product of shared effort, grounded in First Nations custodianship and strengthened by generations of migrants who have helped build the nation’s economy, culture and community life.

 

Nauru and Manus Island:

Australia's agreement to send non-citizens to Nauru faces a High Court challenge, with a case heard last week brought by an Iranian refugee, known as TCXM, whose lawyers say he is being unlawfully deported despite having health risks.

 

Bendigo Bank has decided to shut all remaining bank accounts in Nauru, a week after the Senate heard allegations that senior Nauruan politicians may have made millions of dollars in suspicious transactions.

 

Further details emerged in the media about personnel involved in an opaque deal to provide a security force in Nauru. Australia’s controversial arrangement has triggered a parliamentary inquiry.

• Australia deporting refugees to Nauru may cause their ‘imminent’ and ‘preventable’ death, the court hears.
• The federal government's deal sending non-citizens to Nauru faces a critical High Court challenge.
• An Iranian detainee appeals against Nauru deportation, citing an asthma condition.
• Bendigo Bank shuts Nauru accounts after corruption claims.
• Let me make love to you’: $1000 sex offer revealed in security firm chief’s harassing messages.
• Bikie-linked security firm still guarding Nauru detainees.

 

Other news:

Former Iraqi President Barham Salih has been chosen to be the next head of UNHCR, according to a letter from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Originally from Iraq’s Kurdish region, Salih said during his campaign for the job that he believed deeply in the refugee agency’s mission because he had lived it. He would succeed Filippo Grandi, whose term expires on 31 December, and become the first non-Western head of the Geneva-based agency in about half a century.

 

UNHCR announced the winner of its annual Nansen Refugee Awards as Martin Azia Sodea, the chief of Gado-Badzéré village in east Cameroon. The village of 12,000 residents welcomed 36,000 refugees fleeing from conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2014. Three individuals and one organisation from Mexico, Iraq, Tajikistan and Ukraine won regional awards.    

 

The Council of the EU backed new measures to expedite rejection of asylum claims that are deemed inadmissible, regulations to enable member states to set up ‘return hubs’ in non-EU countries, and the first EU-level list of safe countries for returns of failed asylum seekers. The agreed policy changes will now be negotiated with the European Parliament to approve final legislation. The International Rescue Committee criticised the move as heralding a ‘dangerous new era’ of ‘increasingly punitive’ migration and asylum policies, while Amnesty International has called it ‘a moral retreat’.

 

Germany and Greece agreed that asylum seekers who first arrived in Greece before travelling on to Germany will not be sent back to Greece, which would normally be the case under the EU’s Dublin regulations. The informal agreement between the two countries will last until June 2026, when the new EU Asylum Pact becomes effective, and is estimated to impact about 515,000 asylum cases.   

 

The German government said it will not admit 640 Afghan refugees stranded in Pakistan, despite a previous pledge to resettle them to Germany, saying there is ‘no longer any political interest’ in doing so.

 

A British anti-immigration activist group posted videos claiming to be a ‘civilian border control force’, and saying they have confronted undocumented migrants and destroyed small boats used to ferry them across the channel. Nine French migrant support groups accused French and British authorities of encouraging violence and xenophobia by failing to stop the group from harassing migrants. 

 

Authorities in Gaza warned that some 250,000 displaced Palestinian families are living in unsafe shelters, as torrential rain flooded hundreds of tents in camps across the territory. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said 795,000 displaced people are at heightened risk of flooding, exacerbated by Israeli restrictions on supplies, including materials for shelters, water pumps and sandbags.    

 

UNHCR reported that more than 1.2 million Syrian refugees have voluntarily returned from neighbouring countries, and more than 1.9 million internally displaced Syrians have gone back to their home areas, in the 12 months since the fall of the al-Assad regime. The agency warned that more international support is needed if the trend is to continue.

 

The Trump administration announced it will reduce the validity of work permits for refugees and asylum seekers from five years to 18 months. The new rule will also apply to immigrants with pending applications for asylum or permanent residency, which can take years to complete due to processing backlogs. The move is the latest in a series of restrictions on legal immigration following the arrest of an Afghan national for allegedly shooting two National Guard members, which human rights groups condemned as ‘collective punishment’ of immigrants and refugees.

 

The US government ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to launch operations to target undocumented Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, which has the largest population of Somali migrants in the country. In a cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump referred to Somali immigrants as ‘garbage’ who ‘contribute nothing’ to the US, saying that he doesn’t want them in the country, and they should go back to their own country and ‘fix it’.  

 

Reports & Publications

On International Migrants Day, UN Human Rights is calling for action to uphold the right to family life and unity, highlighting the harm caused by family separation and imagining how lives and societies could be transformed if accessible pathways for family reunification were available. This focus is linked to our ongoing call to scale up, diversify and improve pathways for regular migration and will continue to inform our engagement with States and stakeholders in the lead-up to the International Migration Review Forum and beyond.

 

The following are set of communications materials:

• An illustrated comic, We Belong Together: Honouring Family Bonds in Migration, which follows the stories of three migrants from different regions and illustrates the importance of placing the right to family life at the heart of migration governance. The comic is available in English, French and Spanish. The illustrations are available for download, and we invite you to use them in your communications and advocacy around International Migrants Day and beyond, with credit to the artist, Magda Castría.

 

• A web story, Family life: Essential for every migrant, featuring perspectives from migrants and organisations working on the right to family life in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas.

 

Ellen Hansen, As global displacement reaches record highs, UNHCR marks its 75th anniversary, facing deep funding cuts that threaten its ability to protect refugees and save lives worldwide. ‘At 75, UNHCR is needed more than ever – but its funding is being cut’.

 

UNHCR at 75: Why the world still needs the UN refugee agency. Governments must ensure the UNHCR has all of the resources it needs to sustain its life-saving work. 
 

The Dismantling of US Refugee Resettlement and Its Impacts.

 

Is there merit in Labour’s asylum policies?

 

Can Trump Dismantle the UN Refugee Convention?

 

Australia’s immigration 'debate' is rhetoric, not policy. Australia is awash with immigration rhetoric, but little of it is grounded in evidence, clear definitions or serious policy alternatives. Rather than an informed public debate, Australians are being offered slogans, blame and ambiguity. Anyone who looks at the Australian media would be told that there is an immigration debate occurring.

 

Applications are now open for the 2026 CAPRS Non-Residential Fellowship (NRF)

This funded fellowship supports research on forced displacement in the Asia-Pacific, offering $12,500 NZD to support dissemination and impact. Applications close 9 February 2026. 

 

Australia Awards Fellowships aim to build networks of influence and leadership by strengthening partnerships between Australian organisations and partner organisations in the region. Australian organisations can apply for funding (up to AUD $34,500 per Fellow) to host and support a range of professional development activities, including: work attachment; supervised research; a management or leadership course; a study tour; program meetings and visits, or a combination of these.

 

UN Women has launched the Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women's Empowerment to recognise and celebrate the outstanding efforts of individuals, civil society, public institutions, and private sector actors working toward gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Deadline 20 March 2026

 

The UN Trust Fund has launched a new Call for Proposals to provide four-year grants, offering both core and flexible funds, to civil society organisations working to end violence against women and girls.

 

UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) has launched a Call for Proposals for not-for-profit organisations, including national and international NGOs in Pakistan, to collaborate on the project “Harmonising Afghan Refugees and Host Communities in Urban Slums in Pakistan for Peaceful Coexistence and Social, Gender-Positive Inclusiveness.”

 

International Women's Media Foundation, Kim Wall Memorial Fund - Area: Journalists, Women and Girls, Journalism, Media, Women & Gender.

 

The International Court of Justice is accepting applications for its Judicial Fellowship Programme to improve participants’ understanding of public international law in practice and the Court’s procedures by directly involving them in the activities of the Court. Deadline: Feb 05, 2026
 

 

CFPs: Women's Scholarship for International Students 2026

Deadline: Aug 28, 2026

Grant Size: $1000 to $10,000

Countries/Regions: All Countries

Area: Students, Women and Girls, Women & Gender

Applicants are now invited to submit applications for the Women's Scholarship to award female students on all higher study levels.
 

 

2026 GCSP Prize for Transformative Futures in Peace and Security

Deadline: Mar 20, 2026

Grant Size: $10,000 to $100,000

Countries/Regions: All Countries

Area: Education, Climate Change, Human Rights, Cyber Security, Peace & Conflict Resolution, Technology

The Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) is inviting applications for its GCSP Prize for Transformative Futures in Peace and Security, a global opportunity to reward visionary ideas that address peace and security challenges.

 
 

Partnering with UNFPA APRO to Support Implementation of the Asia and Pacific Regional Programme 2026–2029, UNFPA Asia-Pacific Regional Office (APRO). 

UNFPA APRO is launching a regional call for expressions of interest to build a pre-qualified roster of Implementing Partners for its 2026–2029 Asia-Pacific strategy. This initiative aligns with UNFPA’s global strategic plan and focuses on accelerating progress toward its three transformative results: ending unmet need for family planning, ending preventable maternal deaths, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. The regional program also prioritizes cross-cutting commitments to disability inclusion, youth leadership, crisis response, and inclusive systems adaptation. Selected partners will support the implementation of multi-country and regional initiatives across areas like health systems strengthening, data and research, emergency preparedness, policy advocacy, and South-South collaboration. Applicants must demonstrate strong regional experience, prior UN familiarity, and technical excellence in one or more priority sectors.

• Geographies: Asia-Pacific (East, South, Southeast Asia; Pacific).
• Who can apply: NGOs, CSOs, universities, and institutions with regional experience in health, gender, youth, or protection.
• Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Gender Equality; Focus areas: family planning, maternal health, disability inclusion, youth, GBV
• Deadline: January 30, 2026.
• Learn more and apply here.

 

Small Grants Program, Mérieux Foundation.

The Mérieux Foundation’s Small Grants Program supports local, community-rooted initiatives combating infectious diseases in vulnerable populations, especially mothers and children. Grants fund implementation-ready projects that are aligned with local priorities, integrated with existing health efforts, and led by organisations embedded in the target communities. Applicants must demonstrate a long-term commitment to public health and adhere to the ethical principles outlined in the Foundation’s charter.

• Geographies: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Vietnam, Iraq, Iran, 
• Who can apply: Local nonprofit organisations registered for ≥3 years; student groups and international NGOs are not eligible.
• Funding amount: Up to EUR €5,000 per project; overall project budget may not exceed €50,000.
• Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Health; Focus areas: maternal & child health, community-based infectious disease response, gender equity.
• Deadline: Two rounds yearly, March 1, 2026, and August 1, 2026.
• Learn more and apply here.

 

Call for Nominations: Vigdís Prize for Women’s Empowerment

Deadline: Mar 27, 2026

Donor: Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Grant Type: Awards, Prizes and Challenges

Grant Size: $10,000 to $100,000

Countries/Regions: All Countries

Area: Gender Equality, Women & Gender

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in partnership with the Government of Iceland, has opened nominations for the 2026 Vigdís Prize for Women’s Empowerment.

 

 

Nominations open for Grawemeyer Award Program

Deadline: Jan 30, 2026

Donor: Grawemeyer Awards

Grant Type: Awards, Prizes and Challenges

Grant Size: $10,000 to $100,000

Countries/Regions: All Countries

Area: Environment, Individuals, Peace & Conflict Resolution

The Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order offers a remarkable opportunity for scholars, authors or thinkers worldwide to gain recognition — and substantial support — for powerful ideas aimed at making the world more just, peaceful and cooperative.