As part of the capacity-building and strengthening project we are undertaking with the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC), Klaus took part in an advocacy workshop in Kuala Lumpur on 31 May. Attended by 5 RLOs from Malaysia in-person and 2 from Indonesia online, the workshop outlined advocacy tools and methods, and participants produced preliminary advocacy plans for their research. The workshop was led by Paul Vernon from the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP).

The RLOS representatives also prepared for a dissemination event, which will take place in Bangkok and online on Monday, 30 June (more info to follow on this).

 

In our ongoing journey towards improving meaningful refugee participation (MRP) within APRRN, we onboarded our new consultant Lina Srivastava who will be collaborating and working with the MRP advisory board, the Steering Committee, Secretariat and RLO membership on producing MRP guidelines that will inform many aspects of our work in relation to our programmes, decision making and advocacy. In May and continuing into June, Lina started an assessment phase to look at where we are now, our strengths, and gaps in relation to MRP. Alongside this, we are in the process of completing the MRP Index assessment, overseen by the Asia Pacific Network of Refugees, to help us further review areas for growth within APRRN in relation to MRP.

 

APRRN secretariat visited Medan, North Sumatra, to support the Rohingya Refugee Association in Indonesia (RRAI), the first Rohingya-led Refugee Initiative in Indonesia, during its research exploring opportunities and barriers for Rohingya men, women, and children accessing education and skills development in Pekanbaru, North Sumatra, and Aceh camp settings. The research found keen interest in education and livelihood skill development, and it will produce specific recommendations as to how to enable access to education and skills development. The research report is scheduled to be available in late July or August.

 

In preparation for this year's global Consultation on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (CRCP) in June, APRRN members compiled input and good practices to be presented by Hafsar Tameesudding, Co-Secretary General of APRRN, during her participation at the CRCP in Geneva. The conference comes at a critical time when global resettlement commitments have significantly reduced, and complementary pathways have yet to be scaled in order to reach significant numbers of refugees.   

Hafsar, together with the Assistant High Commissioner for Operations at UNHCR, Mr.Raouf Mazou, tackles critical questions on refugee response: How long will it take for the sector to cede decision-making power to refugees? What power dynamics exist amongst refugee leaders themselves? What’s blocking a much-needed shift away from aid dependency towards self-reliance? And who ultimately has the power to shift it all?

Although the conversations took place before USAID’s dismantlement sent the humanitarian sector into a tailspin, both Mazou’s and Tameesuddin’s proposals for a better refugee response strike right at the heart of the international aid system’s current limitations, calling for more equitable cooperation between global and grassroots organisations, more support for refugee self-reliance, and, consequently, for less reliance on a sector facing major cuts. 

“The objective is no longer to just provide humanitarian assistance,” (Raouf )

“I'm a believer of collective leadership,” Tameesuddin reflects. “In a lot of ways, I feel there is goodwill from UNHCR, from the communities, and all of us. We all want to do good things and want to accomplish something great... what is missing, from my observation, is that human interaction and relationship, and really building relationships with the grassroots.” (Hafsar)

All episodes can be found through The New Humanitarian on Spotify, Apple, YouTube. You can also search “The New Humanitarian” in your favourite podcast app. Also see here:

 Who has the power to improve refugee response? 

 

Ali Reza Yawari of the APRRN Secretariat and — a Hazara refugee from Afghanistan currently living in transit country Indonesia — who shares his lived and witnessed experiences of deep and horrifying pain, resilience, forgiveness, deep compassion, healing, and hope. This talk explores the battles within and around the refugee journey, living in a transit country for a very long period of time, and how, even in the darkest places, love continues to rise.

 

Ali Reza Yawari delivered the Refugee Rights and Advocacy Workshop for RLOs in Indonesia on May 04, 2025, in Cisarua, Bogor, Indonesia. During the workshop, critical issues were discussed and worked together in groups for refugee-led organisations to take action within their communities and advocate for the betterment of living conditions and prospects of more hope in education, livelihoods, and resettlement. Refugee leaders face tremendous challenges while contributing to the bigger advocacy efforts from the grassroots level need to be addressed and prioritised.

 

ACTIONS AND NEWS FROM MEMBERS

Refugee sector writes to congratulate Prime Minister Albanese on reelection. Will you write a couple of lines who this is from? And what were they advocating for? Also see here the action by the Refugee Council of Australia, Prime Minister Albanese’s Visit to Indonesia: A Call for Leadership on Refugee Protection.

 

Emplace Youth Initiative organised and conducted a full-day Focused Group Discussion and Group Work for the youth refugees in Indonesia to share their experiences and insights on the current situation they are facing while accessing education and skills development opportunities. Participants shared their findings and points through problem tree mapping and verbal presentation to other groups to prioritise the common challenges faced by them and seek initiatives and advocacy means to tackle those challenges. 

 

14 May- SUAKA signed a joint statement that urges re-elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Indonesian Government to Strengthen Refugee Rights and Durable Solutions for Refugees. The statement calls on the Indonesian and Australian governments to adopt a more human rights–based approach to refugee management, including lifting the 2014 resettlement ban, expanding safe and legal pathways, and ending indefinite detention. It urges both countries to support refugee rights through a bilateral framework, civil society partnerships, and actions that place humanity at the heart of regional refugee policy.

 

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) Discussion 9th May: Rising authoritarianism and the retreat of aid: Confronting USAID cuts and techno-colonialism in the global majority. Across Southeast Asia, critical protections against transnational repression have been dangerously weakened -- just as authoritarianism gains strength and civil society comes under growing attack. Hear from Yasmin Ullah, executive director, Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network, moderated by Debbie Stothard, founder, ALTSEAN-Burma. 

 

Mary Anne Kenny, “Labor now has the political clout to reset Australia’s refugee policy. Here’s where to start”, The Conversation.

 

International Labour Conference: Take Action on Myanmar Labor Rights Abuses. The International Labour Organization (ILO) should act to prevent the Myanmar military junta’s systematic abuse of workers’ rights and widespread use of forced labor, including forced military conscription, Fortify Rights said. The International Labour Conference (ILC), which sets international labor standards and the policies of the ILO, will gather for its annual meeting today in Geneva, Switzerland. Ahead of the meeting, Fortify Rights wrote to ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo recommending measures, including referring the Myanmar situation to the International Criminal Court, targeted sanctions, and supporting exiled trade unions and other human rights defenders.

 

Since settling in Australia, Muzafar Ali has set up an education charity for refugees abroad, Cisarua Learning. He is now cycling 4,000 kilometres from Queensland to South Australia to raise awareness. Riding for refugee kids.

 

Would you like to feel more confident when fighting misinformation about refugees and migrants? Knowing when and how you should respond can be difficult. Take two minutes to watch our new video, which gives a quick step-by-step guide to the best action to take in a range of situations. Produced with the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), the video is informed by our jointly authored, evidence-based framework, ‘Countering misinformation about refugees and migrants’. The steps work for misinformation about other issues, too.

 

News from the region

Afghanistan:

OCHA, UNHCR and IOM combined data shows 1,033,897 Afghans having returned from Pakistan to Afghanistan, between 15 September 2023 to 10 May 2025 after the Ministry of Interior's (MoI) decision to enact an “Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan” including data on the arrest, detention, and deportation of Proof of Registration (PoR) holders, Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, and undocumented Afghan nationals as well as on the outflows of Afghan nationals at the Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Chaman, Badini and Bahramcha border crossing points. Across Pakistan, the top three districts for arrest and detention between 1 January and 10 May 2025 are Chaghi (Balochistan), Attock (Punjab), and Killa Saifullah (Balochistan). The number of returns and deportations decreased in the last week (4 – 10 May; 22,565 returns and 2,348 deportations) compared to returns and deportations in the week prior to that (27 April– 3 May; 25,064 returns and 4,032 deportations). Since the beginning of April, fear of arrest is the most common reason to return among undocumented/ACC holders (91%) and PoR holders (68%). 

 

Afghanistan Border Consortium Emergency Border Operations 13 to 19 April 2025.

 

UNHCR on the arrival of the first Afghan refugee families under Brazil’s newly launched Community Sponsorship Programme, a pioneering initiative within Latin America to resettle, protect and integrate people forcibly displaced by the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. 

 

ADSP Statement: One million Afghans returned from Pakistan at risk if unsupported.

 

Anti-Taliban Group Urges Iran To Halt Deportation Of At-Risk Afghan Nationals.

 

US DHS Terminating Temporary Protected Status for Afghans in the USA, stating, “We’ve reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners, and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation. Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevents them from returning to their home country."

 

Pakistan:

APRRN Urges Pakistan to Immediately Halt Deportations of Afghan Refugees.

 

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office has said some 110,000 refugees and asylum-seekers in Pakistan, including a minimum of 8 per cent of Proof of Registration (PoR) cardholders, have both high-risk profiles with increased international protection needs, and specific or cumulative vulnerabilities that could qualify them for resettlement. 

 

NewHumanitarian, For Afghans in Pakistan, legal papers now offer no protection from deportation, “We had these damn cards for years, and now they’re useless. They just made them invalid in one day.”

 

Afghan migrants in Pakistan face inhumane treatment, call for support from the Islamic Emirates amid deportations.

 

Pakistan is implementing one of the largest mass deportations ever seen, forcing many back to near-certain Taliban persecution. Pakistan has introduced a deadline of March 31, 2025, for Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders and undocumented foreigners to leave the country voluntarily. Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, recognized by the UNHCR, have been allowed to stay in Pakistan until June 30, 2025. In Pakistan, 49 detention centers have been established to hold Afghan nationals before deportation. However, these facilities were not set up under a specific legal framework, raising concerns about the legality and conditions within these centers.  

 

Pakistan's stricter deportation policies push Afghan refugees' mental health to the edge. From sudden deportations to cancelled flights, the instability has triggered an increase in mental health problems, especially among women, some of whom have been rendered mute by extreme stress. The increasingly hostile environment is forcing many Afghans into desperate situations. 

 

Violating Afghan Refugees’ Rights Will Not Solve Pakistan’s Woes. The history of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is one of stark contrasts. On one hand, the host communities—particularly in FATA, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan—have shown extraordinary compassion and hospitality. On the other hand, the Pakistani military and state authorities have frequently politicised and manipulated the refugee issue in pursuit of ill-conceived foreign and security policies. However, the current actions by the Pakistani government represent an entirely new level of recklessness and irresponsibility.  

 

Indonesia:

‘Afghan Refugees In Indonesia Protest UN, Australian Embassy Over Resettlement Delays’. As newly re-elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Indonesia, refugees staged protests in multiple Indonesian cities, including Jakarta, demonstrating outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office and the Australian Embassy, calling for immediate resettlement. Advocates in Australia also called for a range of changes to refugee policy.

Afghan Refugees In Indonesia Protest UN, Australian Embassy Over Resettlement Delays.

 

Refugee Action Coalition, Albanese must lift Australia’s ban on refugees in Indonesia.

 

Thailand: 

Lawyers Council Launches Probe into Fatal Torture of Myanmar National.

 

Protect Unaccompanied Refugee Children, Provide Legal Status, Prevent Detention.

 

UNHCR, Bangkok, on 1 May 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul directed 1,106 provincial governors, deputy governors, district chiefs, and provincial police commanders to begin implementing accelerated pathways to nationality and permanent residence for over 480,000 stateless people in Thailand.

 

Myanmar refugees in Thailand face health crisis after USAid withdrawal.

 

Karen seizure of Myanmar base prompts refugee exodus. More than 300 people cross border into Tak province in Thailand as fighting continues.

 

Disappearance of Rohingya Refugee Children from Government-Run Shelter Raises Rights Concerns. Following the disappearance of six Rohingya refugee children from a government-run shelter in Chiang Mai on March 21, 2025, the Government of Thailand should ensure that all refugee children in the country have access to legal status and human rights-based alternatives to detention.

 

Malaysia:

ASEAN and the Andaman Sea Crisis: Lessons still unlearned. Ten years on, little has changed. ASEAN still lacks a regional asylum framework or coherent protection mechanism.

 

The unravelling of refugee support in Malaysia: Where do we go from here? US aid cut impact on UNHCR and call to establish a national asylum system.

 

India:

End Arbitrary Arrest, Detention, and Forced Returns of Rohingya Refugees.

 

India’s Supreme Court ruled that Rohingya refugees identified as foreigners under the Foreigners Act must be deported, and reaffirmed a previous ruling that UNHCR-issued refugee identity cards have no legal status under Indian law to prevent their deportation. The ruling followed a petition challenging the detention of at least 69 UNHCR-registered Rohingya refugees by Delhi Police in the last week. A Rohingya activist claimed some of those detained had been taken from a police station to the airport for deportation.

 

Government Arbitrarily Detained and Forcibly Transferred Rohingya Human Rights Defender in Defiance of U.N. Ruling.

 

India is not a dharamshala (free shelter) to entertain refugees: India’s SC tells Sri Lankan man.

 

Indian Authorities Expelled Rohingya Refugees by Pushing Them into the Sea. The UN is calling for an investigation after reports that Indian authorities in New Delhi rounded up dozens of Rohingya refugees, including children, and forced them into the Andaman Sea near Myanmar’s coast with only life jackets. Their fate remains unknown, and the incident occurs amid a broader crackdown on Muslim minorities in India. 

 

Mizoram may soon collect biometric data of Myanmar refugees.

 

Rohingya deportation: Taken to Hindon IAF base, flown to Port Blair before the Navy vessel left them on the Myanmar coast.

 

Supreme Court Observer, Rohingya Deportation | Day 11: State constitutionally obligated to protect refugees of genocide, petitioners argue, Rohingya Deportation, Judges: Surya Kant J, Dipankar Datta J, N.K. Singh J, 9th May 2025 arguments to be heard on 1st July 2025

 

India pushed out Rohingya refugees to an intense battlefield, NUG extends protection.

 

Alarmed by reports of Rohingya cast into the sea from Indian navy vessels, UN expert launches inquiry of “unconscionable, unacceptable acts”.

 

Thrown Into the Sea’: How India Allegedly Deported 38 Rohingya Refugees Without Due Process.

 

MHA sets 30-day limit to verify credentials of ‘illegal’ immigrants from Bangladesh, Myanmar. In a set of instructions issued this month, the MHA asked states and UTs to invoke their statutory powers to detect, identify, and deport illegal immigrants.

 

The constitutional case for protecting Rohingya refugees. The Indian judiciary’s stance on refugee rights has been inconsistent. Three cases are most relevant to note.

 

‘I saw a ship dropping many people into the sea’: India accused of returning Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.

 

Myanmar:

UNHCR reported that 427 Rohingya refugees were feared dead following two shipwrecks off the coast of Myanmar. The two boats were believed to be carrying a total of 514 Rohingya attempting to flee from camps in Bangladesh and from Myanmar’s Rakhine State. A third boat with 188 Rohingya on board was reportedly intercepted while departing from Myanmar. UNHCR said more and more Rohingya are attempting perilous sea voyages in desperation due to the worsening humanitarian situation, exacerbated by cuts in funding.

 

UNHCR Situational Overview / UNHCR Data on IDPs in Myanmar

 

Aung Kyaw Moe shared about the establishment of Rohingya Consultative Council (Interim).

 

UNHCR, UN Women: Disability and women and girls in displacement from Myanmar.

UNHCR fears extreme desperation led to deaths of 427 Rohingya at sea.

 

Over 400 Rohingya feared drowned in two shipwrecks off Myanmar coast: UNHCR says two shipwrecks on May 9 and 10 could be the ‘deadliest tragedy at sea’ involving Rohingya so far this year.  

 

Rohingya refugees increasingly risk perilous journeys to safety, UN says, Dire humanitarian conditions in Myanmar and Bangladesh are driving more Rohingya to risk dangerous boat journeys to safety,  such as one this month that ended in a sinking and estimates of 427 deaths.  

 

Bangladesh: 

Around 82 Rohingya individuals spontaneously returned to Maungdaw, Myanmar, from May 12 to 18, motivated by intentions to restart their businesses and resume farming their land, according to a document published by the UN Refugee Agency - UNHCR. This is the first case of voluntary return of Rohingyas to Myanmar since 2017.

 

Authorities and healthcare workers in refugee camps in Bangladesh have been coercing Rohingya refugee women to use long-term contraceptives, according to an investigation by The New Humanitarian. A UN spokesperson said the UN and other aid groups had raised the issue with Bangladeshi authorities in October 2024 after hearing about complaints of ‘involuntary contraceptive methods’.  

 

Australia:

Australia has spent $13 billion on offshore processing in the past decade; in an SBS fact-check, human rights experts explained less costly, more compassionate approaches. ‘Boost or burden? The cost of Australia's refugee intake.

 

The politics of fear failed’: Refugee advocates call on Labor to lead next term with humanity.

 

Jewish and Hazara voices on the beauty of solidarity and the value of a life worth protecting.

 

The politics of fear failed – now, Labor must deliver for refugees.

 

How soccer gave a level playing field to Craig Foster and his teammates.

 

Refugee Council’s Letter of Congratulations to Prime Minister Albanese.

 

Australia’s role in preventing the next Andaman Sea refugee catastrophe, Regional reforms since the 2015 maritime crisis show progress, but gaps in coordination threaten vulnerable populations.

 

 

OTHER:

US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the termination of temporary protected status (TPS) for Afghanistan, which will take effect on 14 July 2025, putting some 9,000 Afghans in the US at risk of deportation. Noem said ‘notable improvements’ in Afghanistan’s security and economic situation mean the country no longer satisfies the conditions for TPS. Rights groups rejected Noem’s statement as ‘absurd and divorced from reality’, saying many Afghans face a significant risk of persecution or reprisals by the Taliban if they are returned, including journalists, human rights advocates, religious minorities, and those who supported US forces. Human Rights Watch called the move ‘a betrayal of US commitments’, and a former interpreter from Afghanistan warned Afghans who worked with the US military would face the ‘death penalty’ if they returned.

 

Germany turned back 32 asylum seekers from its borders in the first week after Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s new government applied tighter border controls. A total of 739 people were turned back in the first seven days, an increase of 45% on 511 in the previous week.

 

The World Bank Group announced that it has developed an AI-powered model to forecast refugee arrivals 4-6 months in advance, based on analysis of 90 variables including conflict, economic and climate data, as well as information from news reports and social media. The World Bank reported tests in Uganda show the model has a high degree of predictive accuracy, and said the forecasts will enable governments to strengthen infrastructure and services and to better prepare for refugee arrivals.    

 

Reports & Publications

An open letter to the ASEAN chair, which was issued on 9 May, APRRN is one of the signatories.

 

APRRN STATEMENT: APRRN Urgent Appeal to the Government of Pakistan to Immediately Halt Forced Deportations of Afghan Refugees.

 

In 2027, governments are expected to adopt the world’s first-ever global treaty on the Protection of Persons in the event of Disasters — a landmark step toward strengthening international responses in a time of intensifying climate risks. Climate change is fuelling more frequent and severe disasters — from floods and fires to rising seas and heatwaves. These events are devastating communities and, increasingly, displacing people from their homes. In fact, nearly every second, someone is displaced by the impacts of a disaster. This is why it’s so important that the treaty recognises the risks of displacement and safeguards the rights of displaced people.

Foregrounding Displacement and Evacuations in the Proposed Treaty on the Protection of Persons in the event of Disasters is co-authored by Scientia Professor Jane McAdam AO, Director of the Kaldor Centre’s Evacuations Research Hub, and Dr Thomas Mulder, Laureate Postdoctoral Fellow at the Hub.

Watch a 15-minute briefing with Professor McAdam and Dr Mulder, or listen on Soundcloud and Apple Podcasts.

 

AID CUTS: Half of frontline women-led organisations have suspended support for gender-based violence survivors and other programmes, a new UN Women report warned. Nearly half of the surveyed organisations may shut down in the next six months.

 

Global Report on Internal Displacement, see also updated  UN Guidance on Solutions to Internal Displacement.

 

 

Migration and Asylum Project (MAP)

Title: Ipshita: Desire for my homeland, A refugee artisan market and exhibition

We’re delighted to invite you to MAP’s World Refugee Day commemoration on June 20th, 21st, and 22nd, 2025 at Alliance Française de Delhi! 🎉

Brief description: Migration and Asylum Project (MAP) commemorates World Refugee Day to honour the strength, resilience, and courage of people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and persecution. This year, the event will be called Ipshita, which means “desired”. The word encapsulates the desire that each exile feels – for their homeland, for their memory of what was and dreams of what could have been, but also the desire to rebuild, reinvent, and recalibrate the idea of home and belonging.

The heart of this year’s celebration lies in the vibrant Refugee Artisan Market & Exhibition, where refugee entrepreneurs and artisans come together to showcase their skills, traditions, and stories. The Market will feature a dynamic mix of interactive experiences, including culinary experiences, art exhibits, handicrafts, and musical performances. This diverse array of activities is designed to foster meaningful dialogue and build understanding between host communities and refugee populations, creating a shared space for connection and cultural exchange.

Experience the vibrant spirit of resilience at Ipshita-Artisans and Stories of Hope: A Refugee Market — a commemoration of culture, creativity, and community.

Enjoy a showcase of handmade art, crafts, food, interactive workshops, and more! ✨

Date and location: Date: 20-22 June 2025; Location: Alliance Française de Delhi, 72, KK Birla Ln, Lodhi Gardens, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi.

Relevant links: 

Instagram: @migrationandasylumproject or https://www.instagram.com/migrationandasylumproject/?hl=en;

Twitter: @MAPlawcentre;

LinkedIn: @migrationandasylumproject  

Contact person:

saie@aratrust.in and niyati@aratrust.in

 

 

Amnesty International Taiwan will be hosting these two events alongside our ongoing campaigns advocating for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers:

APART TOGETHER: Ukraine photography exhibition

This exhibition sheds light on the plight of thousands of Ukrainian prisoners of war detained in Russia over the past three years. Through 24 poignant photographic stories, it captures the enduring bonds between the prisoners and their families, highlighting the silent suffering and unwavering hope amid prolonged separation.

• Date: from 7^th to 22^nd June
• Location: 3F, No.10, Lane 107, Linsen North Road, Zongshan Dist., Taipei City, Taiwan
• Link (only in Taiwanese Mandarin): https://www.amnesty.tw/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=341&utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=post_link_organic

 

World Refugee Day: Press Conference

The aim of the press conference is to promote the development of refugee legislation in Taiwan. We urge the Government of Taiwan to expedite the legislation of a comprehensive refugee law that aligns with international standards.

• Date: 10 to 11 a.m., 20^th June
• Location: Legislative Yuan (tbc)

 

The 13^th Annual Strategic Litigation Roundtable

 

Tuesday ·  24 June 2025 ·  14:00 -17:00 CEST (Geneva)

Hybrid event – in person and online

The Global Strategic Litigation Roundtable is a unique space dedicated to sharing experiences of using strategic litigation and related legal advocacy to advance the protection of refugee rights and the consistent and progressive development of international refugee and human rights law.

 

As in past years, the in-person event will take place at UNHCR HQ in Geneva, and the remote option on Zoom with French and Spanish simultaneous interpretation. A detailed agenda with speakers will follow shortly.

 

Alice Nah is hosting Dr Susan Banki for a hybrid webinar at Durham University, U,K on Monday, 23 June 2025, from 11:00-12:00 UK (see time zone conversion here).

We would like to invite friends and colleagues from APRRN to join us online for an enriching discussion! Dr Susan Banki’s book, The Ecosystem of Exile Politics, tells the story of a little-known refugee situation. It relays the events in Bhutan that led to the exodus of one-sixth of the population, and then recounts the activism by Bhutan’s refugee diaspora that followed. It shows that activism functions like a physical ecosystem, in which hubs of activism in different locations interact to pressure the home country. Proximity to the homeland allowed for powerful oppositional action but rendered the activists quite precarious. Thus, proximity, the book shows, was a boon and a bane.

“The Ecosystem of Exile Politics explores the power and precarity of physical proximity in diaspora mobilization. With rigorous fieldwork, beautiful prose, and conceptual sophistication, Banki has written a must-read text for anyone interested in the potential for political resistance by refugees.” – Noelle Bridgen, Marquette University. Dr Susan Banki is an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney and the Director of the Master of Social Justice. Susan’s focus is in the Asia-Pacific region, where she has conducted extensive field research in Thailand, Myanmar/Burma, Cambodia, Nepal, Banglades,h and Japan on refugee/migrant protection, statelessness, and border control.

This seminar will be delivered in a hybrid format (MS Teams link will be sent after registration (please check spam/junk folders), and the in-person location is Dthe epartment of Sociology, Room 113, 32 Old Elvet, Durham, DH13HN.

Register Here

 

 

Society for Credibility, Awareness, Reforms, and Fairness (SCARF)

Event Title and Description:

World Refugee Day will be celebrated under the theme "Community as a Superpower."

WRD will be celebrated with refugee students and students from displaced backgrounds, especially girls. 

Date and Location:

June 20, 2025

CECOS University, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan

For updates, event photos, and social media posts, please visit our official Facebook page.

 

 

The 2025 Western Union Global Fellowship Program is now accepting applications on a rolling basis, and interviews are actively underway!

This prestigious Fellowship is designed to empower changemakers like you, offering resources, mentorship, and a global community to elevate your impact. Applications are limited to just 45 Fellows worldwide, so I encourage you to apply now and take the next step in transforming the lives of people on the move.

Click here to apply.

Key Benefits of the Fellowship:

• Community Development Stipend: Every single Western Union Global Fellowship Program Fellow will receive a community development stipend to support the execution of their Basecamps.
• Training and Skill Development: Interactive modules led by experts on topics like sales, metrics, business foundations, and funding.
• Mentorship & Community: Access to world-renowned entrepreneurs, industry leaders, alumni, and partners for guidance and support.
• Pitch Coaching: An opportunity to present at a high-profile pitch event to a global network of mentors, partners, and alumni.

Click here to apply.

Eligibility: Applicants are welcomed from around the globe, with a preference for individuals from Costa Rica, Argentina, Lithuania, Philippines, US, Brazil, Uganda, Nigeria, UK, India, Germany, Colombia, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, Bangladesh.

If you have questions about the Fellowship or want to learn more, feel free to contact angelique@watson.is. She is happy to help connect you to this exciting opportunity!

 

Funding opportunities

Western Union Global Fellowship Program Equipping courageous leaders and entrepreneurs supporting highly marginalized, refugee, or displaced communities to create systemic change. Priority Application Deadline is 1st July 2025

 

The Women's Peace & Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) has issued a Call for Proposals for grants to local civil society organizations in Bangladesh, focusing on women's participation and leadership in preventing climate-related conflicts and injustice, and in economic and political decision-making related to climate security and justice. Deadline 27 June 2025

 

The Minority Rights Group is seeking grant proposals to advance the rights of the persons with disabilities in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces (SBPs) with a particular focus on Economic, Social, and Cultural rights. Deadline 20 June 2025

 

The UN Women Bangladesh seeks to partner with a national, women-led/women's rights civil society organization, to implement an initiative entitled “Strengthening capacity of women’s rights and civil society organizations in Bangladesh to localize the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda”. Deadline 26 June 2025

 

Sun Youth Network Bangladesh - Gain's Collective Action Grant Program (Bangladesh) now open for small grants to support youth-led initiatives aimed at transforming food systems in Bangladesh. Deadline 22 June 2025

 

The Maypole Fund 2025 Program, seeks to financially support feminist activism against militarism and war and closely related issues. Deadline 30 June 2025

  

The UN Women receives applications for the Digitalization for Women’s Economic Empowerment Project (Pakistan) to equip young women aged 18–35 in  Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa (Peshawar, Swabi, and Mardan) districts with digital skills through training, mentorship, and stakeholder engagement. See here the same call for Punjab . Deadline 26 June 2025

 

The Disability Rights Fund is committed to funding grassroots, national and regional organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Laos, Malaysia, Burma(Myanmar), Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Viet Nam.  Deadline: 23 June 2025

 

Sexual Violence Research Initiative  funds innovative research that will contribute to the prevention of and response to, violence against women (VAW), violence against children (VAC) and other forms of violence driven by gender inequality in low and middle-income countries (including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, East Timor (Timor-Leste), Viet Nam), Deadline: 31 July 2025

 

International Development Research Centre - Global Learning Hub for the Women’s Voice and Leadership Learning Partnership is seeking applications to address systemic barriers and make it easier for women, girls and LGBTQI+ communities to live and thrive in dignity and peace, they advocate for changes in laws, policies, and societal and cultural norms. Deadline: 24 June 2025