Photo courtesy: Arakan Project Refugee team Photo courtesy: Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network Annual Report 2011 Photo courtesy: Arakan Project Refugee team Photo courtesy: Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network 7th Floor, Ploy Mitr Building, 81 Sukhumvit soi 2, Bangkok, Thailand Tel / Fax: +66 (0) 22526654 | [email protected] | www.aprrn.org Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network Annual Report 2011 1 Design and Layout: Julia Mayerhofer Editing: Anoop Sukumaran, Julia Mayerhofer, Issac Olson, Dana Mclean Photo Courtesy: The Arakan Project Refugee Team, Thai Committee for Refugees foundation, APRRN. This document is under a creative commons licence. June 2012 2 Table of contents 4 Message from the APRRN Chairs 6 Note from the APRRN Secretariat 7 About APRRN 10 Refugees in the Asia Pacific - An overview of 2011 11 Australia & Pacific 11 South Asia 12 Southeast Asia 14 East Asia 15 Key Achievements in 2011 16 Making an impact - What APRRN members say 17 Advocacy programmes 25 Capacity- building initiatives 31 Network development and communication 34 APRRN Members 36 Acknowledgements 3 Message from the APRRN Chairs The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) was established in 2008 at the first Asia Pacific Consulta- tion on Refugee Rights in Kuala Lumpur. While 2009 and 2010 were focused on laying a good foundation for the Network in the years to follow, 2011 was the year APRRN was able to implement a range of activi- ties and produce tangible results. In the second half of 2011, APRRN pioneered initia- tives in the region such as a Refugee Mental Health Training in Hong Kong, a short course on refugee Pill Kyu Hwang Gopal Krishna Siwakoti law with the University of York and the Refugee and Statelessness Studies Programme at Mahidol Univer- in December 2010. Relevant stakeholders from the sity in Bangkok. In November 2011, APRRN and the Thai government recognized the statement and International Detention Coalition also organized a APRRN supported Thai civil society to take the lead. successful workshop on immigration detention for This was a historic development and has led to 45 participants from across the region. In the same further releases of refugees and asylum seekers from month, APRRN coordinated the East Asia Symposium detention by other stakeholders. Our members in under the theme “Beyond Asylum: Refugee Policy Thailand are now also working on a draft bill, which in Practice and How Refugees Experience it,” which will be tabled at parliament if 10,000 signatures from brought together over 100 people from Hong Kong, Thai citizens are collected. Other key achievements Korea, Japan and Taiwan. In addition we were able include the draft of Standard Operating Procedures to hold consultations in three sub-regions: East Asia in Indonesia, the new refugee law in South Korea and (November), Southeast Asia (September) and South the promising collaboration between civil society Asia (April). and the Japanese government. In 2011, our advocacy efforts also concentrated on APRRN members have also continuously engaged strengthening initiatives of members on a national with regional formations such as ASEAN & SAARC level. One of the highlights this year was the release and its diverse bodies to ensure that refugee lan- of 94 refugees and 2 asylum seekers from immigra- guage is represented. In addition, APRRN has ex- tion detention in Bangkok in June 2011. APRRN co- panded the reach of the network and continues ordinated the initial joint statement demanding the cooperating with other networks such as the Solidar- release of detained Ahmadi Pakistanis in Thailand ity for Asian People’s Advocacy (SAPA) network. 4 On an international level, APRRN continues engaging with UNHCR in Geneva as well as with the UNHCR Regional Hub. Through APRRN, members were able to raise key concerns with UNHCR senior staff and APRRN is now being recognized as one of the key stakeholders in refugee rights discourses. During the UNHCR Consultations with NGOs in June 2011, APRRN also officially launched model pledges to states, which urge governments in the Asia Pacific region to embrace a number of pledges related to the protection of refugee rights. In 2011, the APRRN Secretariat saw some positive changes. Julia Mayerhofer joined as Programme Officer in April 2011 and Haemin Park as an intern from July to December 2011. This increase in staff has allowed APRRN to develop the previously mentioned range of new initiatives. APRRN has now grown to over 110 members organ- ized in four thematic and four geographical working groups. APRRN has facilitated discussion, sharing of resources and joint responses among its members through our various communication channels. All of this has resulted in a dynamic and maturing network making us confident that APRRN will contin- ue to grow and strengthen its position in 2012. After this fruitful year, we would like to express our sincere thanks to the other Steering Committee members, the APRRN Secretariat and of course all members for their continuous commitment towards APRRN. Pill Kyu Hwang, Chair of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network Gopal Krishna Siwakoti, Deputy Chair of the Asia Pacific Refgugee Rights Network 5 Note from the APRRN Secretariat 2011 was significant as it commemorated the 60th Programme Officer. The Secretariat was also sup- anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the ported by Haemin Park, who volunteered as an intern Status of Refugees and the 50th anniversary of the from July to December. Undoubtedly, this increase in 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. human resource capacity from competent and com- It is fitting that through its various initiatives the Asia mitted individuals has meant greater efficiency in Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) made a mark meeting the goals set for the Secretariat. at the national, regional and international levels in 2011. The Secretariat wishes to thank the APRRN Steering Committee for their incredible support and insight, The strength of APRRN resides in the incredible com- the APRRN membership who inspire us with their mitment and ownership that its membership dem- work and APRRN donors whose support has enabled onstrates toward upholding and advancing refugee the achievement of the outcomes for the year. rights in the region. The network has become a platform that synergizes the wonderful work that is The Secretariat is proud and honoured to be part of a being done at various levels. movement that is advancing the rights of refugees. Based in Bangkok, the APRRN Secretariat is tasked Anoop Sukumaran with coordinating the activities of the network APRRN Coordinator as well as enabling the achievement of goals and objectives set by the membership. The Secretariat is provided policy direction through the Steering Committee, as representatives of the general APRRN membership. The APRRN Secretariat remains in con- APRRN Secretariat Team stant contact with the membership through emails, newsletters, website and face-to-face interactions at workshops, consultations and field visits. In addition, the Secretariat endeavors to ensure the active partici- courtesy: APRRN Photo pation of all the members and encourages contribu- tions to policy debates, knowledge, resource and skill sharing. In 2011, the Secretariat was augmented by the re- cruitment of Julia Mayerhofer as the APRRN 6 About the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) was Forging partnerships between civil society, UN founded in November 2008 and since then has pro- agencies, national governments, academic institu- vided a forum for joint advocacy and communication tions, and regional bodies through a common front between diverse civil society organizations working catalyzes the movement and draws upon all refugee on refugee rights in the Asia Pacific. The Network support systems to maximize available resources and currently consists of more than 110 members, bring- leave no potential pathway untried. ing them together to strengthen protection frame- works and develop key mechanisms to advance APRRN members are organized according to four refugee rights in the region. The strength of APRRN Geographical and four Thematic Working Groups: as a network is drawn from its assorted member base specializing in varied fields such as service provision, Geographical working groups human rights advocacy, research, pro-bono legal aid, and refugee community-based organizations. Using • South Asia these various specializations to establish mecha- • Southeast Asia nisms and strategies addressing refugee situations • East Asia creates a holistic and resourceful response. • Australia and Pacific Core activities Thematic working groups APRRN undertakes joint advocacy, capacity build- • Immigration Detention ing, and highlights under-addressed issues through • Legal Aid and Advocacy information sharing, regular contact between mem- • Right to Health APRRN Secretariat Team bers, trainings and conferences, and university short • Women and Girls at Risk courses for academics and advocates. The network’s mission is to protect fundamental refugee rights The APRRN Secretariat is based in Bangkok and is enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention and its currently comprised of one Coordinator, one Pro- 1967 protocol. By encouraging the adoption and gramme Officer and one intern. The Steering Com- implementation of international human rights laws, mittee of APRRN, elected by members bi-annually, and raising awareness of violations, APRRN aims to provides general guidance