Steering Committee and Board Meeting

On 2-3 February, the new Steering Committee (SC) came together in Bangkok and online to refine the strategic focus for the network, identify advocacy strategies and explore how Thematic and Geographical Working Groups can strengthen their collaboration across themes and geographies. This was based on a series of online consultations in January, where Chairs and Deputy Chairs convened consultations with their respective Working Groups and began drafting 2-year plans. 

 

On day 1, a stakeholder reception was held where Thailand-based members and partners came to meet the new SC. On day 2, we also had a Thai and International Board meeting with the new SC members. We will share the meeting minutes with members shortly.

 

The Secretariat held a New Members Induction Call, welcoming 10 new members (7 organisations and 3 individuals) to the network. This session introduced new members to APRRN’s mission, advocacy priorities, working groups, and opportunities for collaboration across the region. With these new additions, APRRN’s membership has now grown to 331 members, further strengthening the network’s collective voice in advancing rights and protection in the Asia Pacific for refugees and other people on the move in situations of vulnerability. These induction calls also provide a space for new members to share their areas of work and connect with the broader community of advocates.

 

As co-lead of the Strategic Litigation Network for the Human Rights of People on the Move in Asia and the Pacific, APRRN and OHCHR continued collaborating with members of the network and DLA Piper, developing a Strategic Litigation Tool Kit for practitioners in the Asia Pacific.

 

In a collaboration with the Humanitarian Practitioners Network, APRRN members and the Secretariat will be drafting four articles on Local humanitarian leadership in a changing architecture for the next edition of the Humanitarian Exchange Magazine, ensuring experiences and good practices from our region are recognised globally. 

 

The selected themes include “Refugee-led leadership in Cox’s Bazar”, “Cross-border community responses along the Myanmar-Thailand border”, “Women-led community responses to SGBV in Malaysia and Thailand” and “Direct community access to pooled funds and advocacy financing”.

 

On 25 February, APRRN shared reflections during the UNHCR Information Session on the Implementation of the Route-Based Approach in Asia and the Pacific, and will continue to engage, ensuring perspectives of local, refugee-led and national organisations are prioritised.

 

In addition, Hafsar and Klaus had an in-person and online meeting, with Karen Whiting, UNHCR Regional Bureau’s Head of Protection for the Asia Pacific Region, to identify and discuss collaboration, including joint advocacy activities, in 2026.

 

Following consultations with members, APRRN made a Submission on “Democracy and Human Rights in Myanmar” to the Australian Senate (Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee), providing suggestions on how Australia can play a more significant role with regard to strengthening responses to displacement and human rights initiatives.

 

On 18 February, Hafsar spoke at the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness Intensive Course Panel - Nothing About Us Without Us: A Conversation with Stateless Leaders, contributing to the summer course on statelessness organised by the Institute of Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI) in collaboration with the Melbourne University of Law. 

 

In late February, Klaus and Hafsar had an in-person and online introductory meeting with the First Secretary at the Embassy of Pakistan to Thailand, Fahd Saleem. They discussed a number of things, including the issue of Afghan repatriation, and explored possibilities for collaboration. 

 

On 19 February, Klaus attended the launch of an exhibition co-hosted by UNCHR Thailand, the Embassy of Canada to Thailand and Chulalongkorn University: “Hearts of Freedom – Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees”. Curated by Professor Stephanie Phetsamay Stobbe, the exhibition presents testimonies of refugees from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, documenting experiences of displacement, protection, resettlement, and integration. Through personal narratives and visual materials, the exhibition reflects on the right to seek asylum and safety from persecution; successful stories of resettlement; and the many contributions they are making in Canada and around the world. You can see the online exhibition here.

 

Members Spotlight! 

YCWS Indonesia

Yayasan Cita Wadah Swadaya (YCWS) is an Indonesian foundation working to advance protection, dignity, and community resilience for refugees and other at-risk communities. As a local organisation, YCWS works directly with communities and in partnership with refugee-led groups, civil society, faith-based actors, and service providers to strengthen access to protection, health, education, psychosocial support, and inclusive community-based assistance. Our approach is grounded in localisation, meaningful participation, and protection-sensitive programming, with a strong commitment to ensuring that refugee and community voices, capacities, and leadership are recognised and supported.

YCWS’s refugee programming includes protection case support, health and psychosocial assistance, support for women and girls at risk, GBV-related protection support, support for unaccompanied and separated children and youth transitioning out of care, and community-based support through interpreters, volunteers, and refugee-led engagement. In addition to refugee protection, YCWS is also strengthening its engagement on labour mobility pathways, particularly in relation to access, protection, and inclusive opportunities for people affected by displacement and vulnerability. We also work to strengthen refugee-led organisations, promote social inclusion, and support practical solutions through partnership, coordination, and advocacy. Through these efforts, YCWS seeks to contribute to a more protective, responsive, and locally rooted humanitarian response in Indonesia.

 

From rhetoric to reality: Centering the meaningful participation of refugees

Too often, refugee participation is symbolic. This panel flips that script—showcasing real-world leadership by refugees and how inclusive policies make systems stronger. Recorded at the 2025 Kaldor Centre Conference, Building bridges: Advancing refugee protection in a divided world.

Speakers

• Chair: Frances Voon, Executive Manager, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law
• Dor Akech Achiek, Interim CEO, Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre
• Dr Renee Dixson, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Forcibly Displaced People Network
• Dr Tristan Harley, Senior Research Associate, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law
• Najeeba Wazefadost, Executive Director, Asia Pacific Network of Refugees

Why Watch

• Learn how refugees are moving from surface-level consultation to genuine collaboration
• See how LGBTIQA+ voices and refugee-led networks strengthen inclusion
• Explore practical models for shared decision-making in policy development
• Witness innovative frameworks built by refugees, for refugees

 

The Kaldor Centre’s new submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration shows how refugee labour mobility – through the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot (SRLAP) – is already delivering real results for regional Australia. Read the submission to see recommendations for how skilled migration policy can better deliver for regional Australia.

 

New initiative helps LGBTIQA+ refugees access resettlement in Australia. LGBTIQA+ refugees in Asia and the Pacific will be able to access dedicated support for priority processing in Australia’s humanitarian program under a new program, Bridge to Safety. It is a partnership between the Forcibly Displaced People Network (FDPN) and Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS).

 

Global Detention Project, North South Initiative (NSI) and Myanmar Ethnic Organisation (MEO), Malaysia: Joint Submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

As the Committee’s Joint General Comment (No. 23/ No.4), issued with the Committee on Migrant Workers in 2017, states: “[C]hildren should never be detained for reasons related to their or their parents’ migration status and States should expeditiously and completely cease or eradicate the immigration detention of children. Any kind of child immigration detention should be forbidden by law, and such a prohibition should be fully implemented in practice.”

 

New Film Highlights Need for Justice, Equality Ahead of Elections. In producing the film, Fortify Rights spoke with women’s rights activists, members of a youth-led political party, protest leaders, and families of enforced disappearance victims, who emphasised both hope for a “new Bangladesh” and urgent concerns about backsliding. 

 

In a joint statement, Jesuit Refugee Service Asia Pacific and the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network said Myanmar’s displacement crisis is worsening amid ongoing military violence, forced conscription, widespread rights violations, and weakening protection mechanisms. The statement called on regional and international bodies, including ASEAN and the UN, to reject the military-controlled election processes and strengthen refugee protections.

 

News from the region

Afghanistan: 

Afghan authorities reported a continued surge in deportations of Afghan nationals from neighbouring countries, with 14,576 sent back from Pakistan in the first week of February, and 12,058 in the previous week. A further 1,446 Afghans were returned from Iran in the past two weeks.
 

The Afghanistan section in the 2026 World Report notes of Human Rights Watch:

• In 2025, Afghans were one of the world’s largest refugee populations, numbering 5.8 million. In 2025, Iran and Pakistan alone expelled more than two million, including thousands of Afghans born outside the country who had never lived in Afghanistan. As of July, UN experts stated that over 1.5 million Afghans had been deported from Iran.  
• Among those forced back to Afghanistan have been Afghan activists and journalists who fled to Iran and Pakistan after the Taliban takeover, who may be at risk of reprisal because of their work. Former security officers who were deported to Afghanistan have faced arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, and other ill-treatment. 
• In July, Germany deported 81 Afghans to Kabul, its second such flight since the Taliban takeover, in what the government said would be continuing deportations. In July, the Trump administration ended Temporary Protected Status for Afghan nationals, claiming that economic and security conditions had improved inside the country, and no threat was posed to returning nationals. The US also deported some Afghan nationals to Panama.  
• Resettlement schemes for Afghan refugees in the US, UK, Germany, Canada, and other countries stalled, leaving thousands of Afghans who fled the Taliban in limbo in Iran, Pakistan, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries where they were at risk of deportation. 

 

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said more than 4 million Afghan refugees returned in the last year, including both voluntary returns and deportations. More than 1,100 Afghan families returned from Pakistan and Iran in one day last week, according to officials.

“The situation remains tense amid active conflict along the border with reported displacement in Kunar and Nangarhar and heavy fighting around Torkham, where the crossing remains closed, and movements are limited. Humanitarian operations continue under heightened security measures, with activities at the Omari reception centre temporarily paused following recent strikes, while Takhtapul reception centre activities resumed on 2 March. According to preliminary data compiled by OCHA, an estimated 16,400 households have been displaced across Paktya, Paktika, Nangarhar, Kunar and Khost provinces from areas impacted by the clashes.”

 

OCHA, Afghanistan: Humanitarian Update, December 2025

Afghanistan returnees’ crisis: Key trends and operational impact in 2026.

Millions of Afghans are returning home under increasingly dire circumstances, fueling a humanitarian emergency of historic proportions. Over the past two years, roughly five million people, nearly 10 per cent of the population, have returned, fleeing deportations and tightening migration restrictions in neighbouring countries. In 2025 alone, an estimated 2.78 million Afghans returned, the majority from Iran (1.88 million) and Pakistan (899,000), including 2.3 million undocumented and 484,000 documented returnees. At the peak of the year, daily arrivals from Iran surged to 30,000 – 40,000 in June and July, overwhelming border reception points and putting severe strain on onward movement systems.

For most returnees, the journey home was abrupt and unplanned. Families arrived with few assets, limited savings and minimal documentation, immediately relying on humanitarian assistance. Communities across Afghanistan — already struggling with poverty, unemployment and limited public services- were suddenly tasked with accommodating vast numbers of newcomers.

 

More than 4,300 Afghan nationals returned from Pakistan and Iran in a single day on Wednesday. Taliban authorities said that deportations from both countries persist amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

The Taliban’s commission for refugee affairs reported that 3,918 Afghans returned from Pakistan, mainly through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings. An additional 449 were deported from Iran via the Pul-e Abresham and Islam Qala points.

 

Australia: 

With just weeks left on her Australian student visa, one Iranian woman fears she will be executed if she has to return.

 

Workers accuse the new company managing Australia’s immigration detention centres of running them ‘like a prison.

 

Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2026 criticised Australia’s recent moves to deport refugees and noncitizens to Nauru and new laws that deny them the right to basic procedural fairness. Australia has violated the rights of asylum seekers for decades by forcibly transferring them to offshore detention, where they face abuse. 

• In January, the United Nations Human Rights Committee found Australia remained responsible for violations against asylum seekers transferred to Nauru. 
• In September, the Australian government reached an agreement with Nauru to deport a reported 350 people to the Pacific island. The government had previously been forced to release these people from onshore immigration detention after the high court ruled indefinite detention illegal. The deportation deal could cost Australia A$2.5 billion (US$1.6 billion). 
• In October, the government confirmed the first deportation had taken place. Australia also rushed through new laws to strip deportees of basic procedural fairness rights.

Although Australia claims the Nauru agreement ensures refugees “proper treatment and long-term residence,” laws enabling the deal do not guarantee freedom from detention or protection from return to persecution. 

 

The link between ICE and Australian detention centres. A private prison company used by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is now running detention centres in Australia, where staff have raised safety concerns, including a rise in sexual assaults.

 

Do migrants feel they belong in Australia? The answer is complicated. While most migrants feel a growing sense of belonging in Australia, particularly within local communities, many who have recently moved to Australia still experience discrimination at a higher level, according to a new study.

 

Bangladesh: 

Incoming Government Must End Restrictions on Freedom of Movement, Protect Rohingya Refugees. New testimony exposes the Election Commission and Bangladesh authorities blocking Rohingya refugees’ movement ahead of national elections.

 

Helpless in Bangladesh: Rohingya Women and the Failures of Protection. Refugees in Bangladesh are vulnerable to kidnappings and forced recruitment, alongside restrictive movement regimes, and denial of access to education and livelihoods.

 

The Rohingya are perennial pawns in Bangladesh’s politics.

Bangladesh’s political players are intent on Rohingya repatriation, which will be used as a political tool, no matter who forms the new government

1. The interim government has framed the Rohingya as a “national burden” and doubled down on managed repatriation theatrics.
2. The BNP rewrites its own history of past repatriations while promising to “send them back” again.
3. Jamaat pushes a more ideological, irredentist vision of return that bears little relation to realities on the ground in Rakhine.
4. UNHCR’s new leadership and regional powers like China and India are aligning around a language of “durable solutions” that risks prioritising speed and optics over refugee rights.

 

Rohingya repatriation only viable, sustainable solution to crisis, says CA Yunus.

He urged the UN refugee agency to continue its active engagement to facilitate their safe return. The chief advisor made the remarks on Wednesday during the visit of the newly appointed country representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ivo Freijsen, ... During the meeting, the UNHCR representative highlighted the “dramatic decline” in aid for Rohingya refugees living in camps … and stressed the need for greater self-reliance and livelihood opportunities in the settlements.

 

BANGLADESH section 2026 World Report

• The Rohingya faced pressure and violence by armed groups and criminal gangs in the camps, including sexual violence, abductions, forced recruitment, and extortion. Many victims reported a near total lack of access to protection, legal assistance, and medical care.
• Cuts to foreign aid and the influx of new arrivals led to the closure of health care centers and early education programs, and reductions in food and cooking gas. Humanitarian workers warned of an expected increase in disease outbreaks and child malnutrition, as well as human trafficking, irregular migration, and gang violence.

 

In Bangladesh, at least 1,500 Rohingya were detained in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, during an army-led operation ahead of the national election on 12 February. The operation targeted Rohingya refugees living in the community, who were sent back to designated camps in the region, while landlords who had rented houses to them were fined. Tarique Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which won the election with a significant majority, had said before the election that Rohingya refugees are welcome to stay in Bangladesh until it is safe for them to return to Myanmar.

 

India:

Bordered Lives: Bangladeshi Women’s Migration To India, Precarity, And The Gap Between Policy And Ground Realities – Analysis.

 

Rohingya ‘Custodial Disappearance’ Plea: Supreme Court Gives Centre Two Weeks to Respond, Case Title: Rita Manchanda v. Union of India, Bench: CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi Hearing.

 

Indefinite Detention or Castaway? Only Two Losing Options for Stateless Rohingya in India.

“Rohingya refugees are subject to the legal precarity of an irregular alien who is branded a terror risk. This securitised discourse is used to justify the intolerant stance in public policy and the courts towards them.”

 

14-year-old Rohingya boy taunted over ‘refugee’ status, stabbed to death after a quarrel in Delhi.

 

Indonesia:

Rohingya residents held a demonstration in Pekanbaru, demanding more adequate monthly assistance.

 

Iran:  

The Iranian judiciary executed 14 prisoners, including three Afghan nationals and three Gilak men, across facilities in Ahvaz, Arak, Gorgan, Taybad, Yazd, and Shiraz on charges of “premeditated murder” and drug-related offences, based on information received by Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights.

 

Iranian police rescued two Afghan traders in Tehran after 25 days held in a hidden well, following a high-profile kidnapping.

Iran’s police reported that the two Afghan traders were kidnapped in Tehran and kept in harsh conditions in a concealed well.

 

Japan: 

Why Right-Winged Ideology Is Gaining Popularity In Japan.

HRW – report: Japan’s asylum and refugee determination system remains strongly oriented against granting refugee status. In 2024, the Justice Ministry received 12,373 applications for asylum but recognised only 190 people as refugees. The ministry also categorised 335 people as needing humanitarian considerations, and 1,661 people were granted protection under Japan’s expanded refugee definition, allowing them to stay in Japan.

 

In March, the Justice Ministry announced it had deported 17 people since June 2024 under a revised law, after they had applied for asylum more than twice.

 

Malaysia 

HRW report: About 210,000 refugees and asylum seekers—including over 124,000 ethnic Rohingya Muslims and some 64,800 children—are registered with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) but not granted legal status, unable to formally work or enrol in government schools.

 

In 2025, Malaysian authorities significantly escalated immigration raids. Between January and May, authorities arrested an estimated 34,000 individuals.

 

The Malaysian government was detaining about 18,000 migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in immigration detention centres without judicial oversight, as of July 2025. Detainees are at risk of indefinite detention. Since 2019, the government has denied UNHCR access to immigration detention centres and Baitul Mahabbah centres, dedicated facilities for children aged 10 and younger. The home minister told parliament that 10 per cent of detainees were children as of July 2025.

 

Malaysia’s immigration detention system has been described as “punitive, arbitrary and harmful” by the Geneva-based research group the Global Detention Project, which placed the country among the harshest immigration detention regimes globally.

 

The Committee on the Rights of the Child issued numerous relevant recommendations, including: “Amend the Immigration Act, the Child Act and related policies to end immigration detention of children,” and “Ensure that migrant children are not detained on the basis of their or their parents’ migration status and that alternatives to detention are available.” GDP December 2025 joint submission with the North South Initiative (NSI) and Myanmar Ethnic Organisation (MEO) included similar recommendations.

 

Myanmar:  

Myanmar Junta Attacks on Farmers May Constitute War Crimes, New Investigation Finds. Deliberate strikes on agricultural land and civilians during harvest season threaten food security. The Myanmar military junta attacked farming communities in Karenni State and on the Karenni–Shan State border, deliberately targeting civilians, farmland, and food systems during a critical harvest period, said Fortify Rights today. A new investigation documents attacks on farmers through detention, torture, shelling, and aerial assaults.

 

Myanmar Military Detains Boat Carrying 238 Rohingya in Sittwe.

“Myanmar military forces intercepted a boat carrying 244 civilians, including 238 Rohingya and six Rakhine people, who were attempting to travel from Kyaukphyu toward Malaysia. The boat was detained near Sittwe port and escorted by military patrol vessels. The passengers were fleeing persecution and restrictions in Arakan State, reflecting the continued desperation driving dangerous migration routes.”

 

Landmine Injuries Surge Along Myanmar–Bangladesh Border, Civilians Face Growing Risks.

Landmine-related injuries along the Myanmar–Bangladesh border increased sharply, with villagers losing limbs while collecting forest products or crossing informal routes. Among the victims was Ali Hussain, who lost a leg after triggering a landmine. The incidents underscored the long-term dangers of unexploded ordnance in conflict zones.

 

Shocking Testimonies.. International Court of Justice Begins Hearings in Rohingya Genocide Case Against Myanmar.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague began hearings in the genocide case filed by The Gambia against Myanmar, concerning crimes committed against the Rohingya in 2017. The hearings were scheduled to last three weeks and included oral arguments, evidence review, and witness testimony.

 

Statement: Rohingya Human Rights Initiative Calls For Urgent International Action After Devastating Fire In Camp 16, Cox’s Bazar.

 

Deadly Escape Journeys. Stories of the Rohingya Swallowed by Migration Routes and the Sea.

Reports documented continued dangerous sea journeys undertaken by Rohingya fleeing persecution. Refugees faced extortion by smugglers, starvation, violence, and death during maritime crossings, underscoring the absence of safe, legal pathways for protection and resettlement.

 

Myanmar section 2026 world report of Human Rights Watch.

 

Military Proxy Party Declared Lopsided Victor in ‘Sham’ Myanmar Election.

“The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won 739 of the 1,025 seats up for grabs in national and provincial assemblies. Min Aung Hlaing rushed through a law creating a new body known as the Union Consultative Council, which is intended to oversee both the military and civilian administrations. According to a Reuters report, the five-member Council will have an “exceptionally broad” remit, granting it “control over every critical component of national security and the legislative process.”

 

Voices from the frontline: Navigating the future of Myanmar.

On 27 February 2026, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ilze Brands Kehris, presented the High Commissioner's oral update on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Read here.

 

Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar - Bulletin Issue 16, February 2026 [EN/MY].

 

UNICEF Myanmar Humanitarian Situation Report No. 4.

 

Attacks on Health Care in Myanmar: 21 January - 03 February 2026.

 

UNHCR, A Route-Based Snapshot: Data & Trends for Refugees from Myanmar, as of end-September 2025, (Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand)

 

US ends temporary status for Myanmar nationals, cites upcoming elections as 'progress'.

 

Pakistan:

Pakistan deports over 14,500 migrants in a week.

Between Jan. 31 and Feb. 6, a total of 14,576 people were sent back from Pakistan, while a further 832 were deported from Iran.

 

HRW 2026 Report

 

Government officials blamed Afghan refugees in Pakistan for a surge in militant attacks, providing a pretext for the authorities to expel hundreds of thousands of Afghans, some of whom have lived in Pakistan for generations. Undocumented Afghans were particularly vulnerable to abuse by Pakistani police and local officials.

 

The government’s “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” systematically targeted Afghans, beginning with unregistered nationals and expanding to holders of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards issued by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). The campaign accelerated dramatically in July with the authorities targeting PoR cardholders for deportation despite their status as refugees. In 2025, at least 531,700 Afghans were coerced into leaving Pakistan for Afghanistan. In August alone, 145,200 Afghans returned, with 54 per cent being PoR cardholders who previously had legal protection. Between September and April alone, authorities arrested and detained over 57,300 Afghans, including recognised refugees.

 

Pakistan Acknowledges Some Afghans Cannot Be Returned: A Window for Action.

 

Secours Islamique France (SIF) shared the survey results of 1,800 Pakistani youth who have been displaced or are at risk of displacement due to disasters and climate change, conducted by Ipsos Pakistan.

 

In Pakistan, local media reported that about two thousand personnel were mobilised in a large-scale operation targeting Afghan nationals across several cities at the start of Ramadan.

 

105 Afghan Citizens Released from Pakistani Prisons Amid Rising Border Tensions:

The Afghan consulate in Karachi reported the successful release and repatriation of 105 Afghan nationals from Pakistani prisons on February 16, 2026, marking a significant humanitarian achievement amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between the neighbouring countries.

 

Thailand:  

From Burden to Strength: A New Chapter for Refugees in Thailand.

 

Other news:

CAMBODIA section of 2026 (HRW) World Report 

 

Trump Administration’s Cruel Policy Jeopardising Refugee Status for 233,000 Resettled Refugees - Refugee Council USA.

 

The Trump administration moves to reinterview refugees admitted to the US under Biden.

 

Indicting BPSOS Leader Dr. Nguyen Dinh Thang, Hanoi’s Strategic Shift in Diplomatic Manoeuvring.

 

The Government of the Republic of Korea has recently launched a new education pathways program.

 

The UN reported that escalating drone strikes in Sudan’s Kordofan region are killing civilians and threatening humanitarian operations, while continued arrivals of newly-displaced families are depleting limited aid supplies. More than 115,000 people have been displaced across the region since late October, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

 

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is claiming the right to arrest and detain refugees who have not obtained green cards, according to a memo submitted as part of a court hearing. The memo states that lawful refugees who have not become permanent residents one year after arriving in the US must return to government custody for review and re-vetting, and will be subject to arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if they do not. The move reverses a 2010 Obama-era policy that states failure to apply for a green card within a year is not sufficient grounds for detention or deportation.

 

The Trump administration proposed suspending the issuance of work permits for asylum seekers until average processing times reach 180 days or lower. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimated it could take between 14 and 173 years to reach this target based on current processing times, without factoring in other proposed changes, including barring migrants who entered the US illegally from receiving new work permits or renewing existing ones.

 

Reports & Publications

OHCHR Regional Office in Bangkok has released a new report, “A WICKED PROBLEM” Seeking Human Rights-Based Solutions to Trafficking into Cyber Scam Operations in South-East Asia. The report is accompanied by the StoryMap, which provides an executive summary of the report.  

• This report is based on human rights, behavioural science, and systems-thinking approaches and centres on the lived experiences of victims of human trafficking for forced criminality. 
• Through a behavioural science lens, the report also seeks to understand the barriers and enablers that lead victims into cyber scam operations through fraudulent recruitment pathways. 
• The report also provides key messages for States and other relevant stakeholders focused on the protection of trafficked victims and the prevention of fraudulent recruitment and exploitation by cyber scam operations.

Download the full report here: [Link] 

View the StoryMap here: [Link]

 

Bangladeshi Men Trafficked to Fight in Russia’s Illegal War in Ukraine

New report documents deception, coercion, and forced frontline deployment; urges Bangladesh to dismantle recruitment networks, protect survivors.  Read the Report

 

HRW Asia trends report launch at FCCT - Decline of Rights in 2025: Conflict, Aid Cuts, Democratic Backsliding. Watch the launch event in the Asia section. Elections this month see Opposition leaders in prison or under house arrest. Attacks on civil society and journalists, and increasing discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities.

 

Access the full HRW World Report 2026 here.

 

Elizabeth Ferris, The Weakening Foundation of International Protection.
 

Bronwyn Naylor, Protecting human rights in detention: Does anybody care?

 

“From Symbolic Compliance to Substantive Protection: A Comparative Study of Cambodia and Vietnam's Anti-Trafficking Laws,” M. Hoang Le, Journal of Human Trafficking.

 

A dynamic discussion about how we can bring people together for honest and respectful dialogue on refugee and migration issues is available to watch or listen to, just as these issues come to the fore in Australian politics. Watch or listen now to ‘Conversations across divides: Fostering constructive dialogue in the public square’.

 

Gerhard Hoffstaedter, Antje Missbach, Chris Lewa and Erik Ramadhanil, ‘Rohingya boats: Out of mind but still coming’, Lowy Institute/The Interpreter.

 

Mette Foged, Karen-Inge Karstoft, Edith Zink, ‘Why Some Refugees Struggle to Work: The Role of Early Signs of PTSD.

 

From a humanitarian showcase to a migration filter: Brazil’s contradictory role in refugee protection. Brazil went from being a humanitarian model in the face of the Venezuelan exodus to erecting barriers that turn protection into a filter and asylum into an exception.

 

APRRN/Members’ Job Vacancies

Consultant – Network Paper on Local Coordination Committees

The Humanitarian Practice Network (HPN) is an independent global forum that connects practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and other actors engaged in crisis response. Through its publications and knowledge platforms, HPN promotes knowledge-sharing and learning aimed at improving humanitarian policy and practice.

One of HPN’s flagship outputs is the Network Paper series, which provides in-depth research and analysis on key humanitarian issues, typically ranging between 10,000 and 20,000 words, and contributing to policy discussions and operational learning across the humanitarian sector.
Following consultations among HPN partners, the next Network Paper will explore the role of Local Coordination Committees in locally led humanitarian response, reflecting HPN’s commitment to partner-led thematic priorities and locally grounded knowledge.
This research will be developed in collaboration with HPN partners, with the Centre for Civil Society and Democracy (CCSD) serving as the partner responsible for contracting and managing the consultant throughout the research process.
This questionnaire forms part of the consultant selection process, and responses will be used to assess applicants’ relevant experience, analytical capacity, and understanding of the topic.

Deliverables
The selected consultant will be responsible for producing the following outputs:
1. Inception Report

• Refined methodology
• Research framework and data collection tools
• Detailed work plan

2. Data Collection Outputs

• Interview transcripts or detailed notes
• Survey results
• Documentation of case studies

3. Draft Network Paper

• First draft for partner and editorial review
• Second revised draft incorporating feedback

4. Final Network Paper

• A fully revised publication-ready paper (10,000–20,000 words)
• Integration of feedback from partners and editorial reviewers

Timeline

The consultancy will take place between March and July 2026, according to the following milestones:

• Deadline for applications: 31 March 2026
• Consultant contracted: 13 April 2026
• Inception report: 27 April 2026
• First draft submission: 22 June 2026
• Second draft submission: 3 July 2026
• Final paper submission: 15 July 2026
• Publication and launch: 31 July 2026

Application Requirements

Applicants are requested to submit the following:

• A technical proposal outlining the proposed approach and methodology
• A financial quotation (RFQ)
• Updated CV(s) highlighting relevant experience
• 1–2 samples of relevant research or analytical writing

Estimated consultancy budget: USD 5,000 – 7,000

TOR Link

 

18-20 May 2026 in Singapore, The Sixth 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 (PAS), engage with fellow innovators, programme owners, and implementers, and connect with leaders from philanthropy, government, and business. 

The sixth Philanthropy Asia Summit will spotlight Asian innovations with global potential, showcasing cross-cutting partnerships that translate intention into action. Through daily keynotes, panels, innovation showcases, and immersive impact journeys, PAS 2026 will explore how science, technology, innovative financing, and cross-sector collaboration can drive bold solutions in climate, health, and inclusive development. Attendance is by invitation only – reach out to pas@philanthropyasiaalliance.org to request an invitation.

 

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.

 

CFPs: Women's Scholarship for International Students 2026

Deadline: Aug 28, 2026

Grant Type: Scholarship

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 at all higher study levels. For more information, visit here.

 

Funding opportunities

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.

For more information, visit here.

 

Submissions open for Australia Awards (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) to support the next generation of local, national, and global leaders. Deadline: Apr 30, 2026.    Thailand  |   Philippines   |    Bangladesh

 

Beyond Genocide: Call for Submissions visual competition, including Rohingya / Myanmar: Case Study for 2025 – 2026, art opus that develops thematic currents of narration examining a pan-historic chronology and geography of mass atrocity events, Deadline 1^st April 2026.

 

Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) Thailand Programme 2026–27 provides modest funding for small-scale, high-impact projects conceived and designed predominantly by local partners. Contributions typically range from CAD $15,000 to $35,000, with a maximum allocation of CAD $100,000. Eligible recipients include local NGOs, community groups, academic institutions, international NGOs, intergovernmental and regional organizations, government agencies, and Canadian NGOs working on local development activities. Thematic priorities: inclusive governance, peace and security, growth that works for everyone, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, or environment and climate action. Deadline: 8 April 2026.

 

Submit Applications for Australia-Korea Foundation Grant Program

Deadline: May 13, 2026

Grant Size: $100,000 to $500,000

Countries/Regions: Australia, South Korea

Area: Agriculture Food & Nutrition, Arts & Culture, Business & Industry, Community Development, Literacy, Energy, Cyber Security, Information Technology, Sports & Recreation, Youth & Adolescents

The Australia-Korea Foundation (AKF) 2026–27 Grant Round invites applications for projects that strengthen bilateral cooperation and deepen engagement between Australia and the Republic of Korea.

 

Entries open for the Geneva Challenge

Deadline: Apr 24, 2026

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

Countries/Regions: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Burma(Myanmar), Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, East Timor (Timor-Leste), Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam

Area: Employment & Labor, Climate Change, Students, Innovation, Marketing, Technology, Sustainable Development, Youth & Adolescents

Applications are now open for the Geneva Challenge to develop innovative, interdisciplinary and practical solutions to the pressing challenges shaping the future of work.

 

Call for Proposals: Promoting Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom (Pakistan)

Deadline: Apr 21, 2026

Grant Size: $500,000 to $1 million

Countries/Regions: Pakistan

Area: Civil Society Development, Media

The European Commission (EC) has announced a call for proposals to support civil society initiatives that promote and protect freedom of expression and media freedom in Pakistan.

 

Entries Open: Intercultural Achievement Award 2026

Deadline: Mar 31, 2026

Grant Size: $1000 to $10,000

Countries/Regions: All Countries

Area: Arts & Culture, Media, Organizing Events, Education, Environment, Human Rights, Individuals, Innovation, Religion, Technology, Gender Equality, Youth & Adolescents

The Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs invites applications for the Intercultural Achievement Award 2026, recognizing projects that advance intercultural and interreligious dialogue with measurable impact.

 

Request for Proposals: Scaling Youth Mental Health Innovations

Deadline: Mar 31, 2026

Grant Size: More than $1 million

Countries/Regions: Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Viet Nam

Area: Business & Industry, Community Development, Mental Health & Crisis Support, Individuals, Innovation, Youth & Adolescents

Grand Challenges Canada, through the Being Initiative, is investing in ready-to-scale innovations that address the root causes of young people’s distress before they escalate, strengthening the environments where they live, learn, and grow.

 

Applications open for Youth to the Front Fund

Countries/Regions: All Countries

Area: Arts & Culture, Exhibition, Filmmaking and Entertainment, Literature, Music, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Community Engagement, Social Justice, Individuals, Leadership, Storytelling, Research, Technology, Youth & Adolescents

The Youth to the Front Fund is inviting applications to support young leaders whose work is creating real, measurable impact in the moment.

Deadline: Apr 06, 2026

 

In July 2026, The lululemon Gives Community Wellbeing Grant will open a call for funding to community-led organisations around the globe that are advancing wellbeing through movement and mindfulness. Interested organisations can apply for up to $50,000 USD, which should not exceed 40% of their most recently completed fiscal year’s operating budget.

 

The AVPN opportunity - Asia-based Philanthropy:

The Fund aims to strengthen partnerships across the philanthropic, private, public and people sectors to collaborate, share and mobilise resources to strengthen the Harmony in Diversity ecosystem. It will empower community-based organisations driving harmony initiatives to foster and sustain long-term positive change. 

Funding amount: between USD 50,000 to USD 200,000 over a funding period of approximately 2 years till September 2028.  

Impact Areas

Have early-stage innovation or ready-to-scale initiatives in one or more of the following areas:

• Promoting intercultural understanding
• Strengthening connections and collaboration across diverse communities
• Building community capacity to implement harmony initiatives
• Developing innovative and creative approaches to advance harmony

Deadline: 24 April, 2026

 

Community-Centred Connectivity (CCC) Grant Program – Internet Society Foundation

Global (preference for organisations working with refugees, Indigenous communities, and women and girls)

Digital inclusion, internet connectivity, and digital literacy

Catalyst: up to USD $50,000 / Scaling: up to USD $200,000 / Systems: above $200,000 (invite-only) Deadline: May 7, 2026  

Open to legally registered nonprofits and social enterprises able to receive funds from a US-based foundation. Projects must address barriers to internet connectivity (availability, affordability, adoption) in digitally excluded communities.

 

NED Grants Program – National Endowment for Democracy

Global — over 100 countries (excludes projects implemented in the US or established democracies)

Democracy, human rights, freedom of the press, civil society, rule of law, civic education

Open to nongovernmental organisations — civic groups, associations, independent media, and CSOs — working in countries with nascent democracies, transitional, semi-authoritarian, or highly repressive contexts. No funding for individuals, governments, or public institutions. Apply by email to the regional address corresponding to your project location.

Deadline: June 2, 2026 (next deadline; three rounds per year)

 

Global Impact Cash Grant Program – Cisco Foundation

Global (national or multinational nonprofits serving populations 65%+ economically underserved)

Crisis response, education, economic empowerment, climate resilience; technology-enabled solutions. Up to USD $75,000 Rolling - Open to nonprofits and NGOs with national or multinational operations using technology innovatively to address critical social challenges. The process starts with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) — only organisations that pass are invited to submit a full proposal. Healthcare, schools, scholarships, and events are not eligible. LOI review takes up to one business quarter.

 

Feminist Storytelling Grant – Exile Hub

Myanmar communities in exile (global diaspora)

Feminist storytelling, gender justice, LGBTQI+

March 31, 2026

Grant for women and LGBTQI+ individuals from Myanmar communities in exile using storytelling as a tool for resistance and change. Open to filmmakers, writers, artists, journalists, and multimedia creators. Requires endorsement from a trusted organisation, feminist network, WHRD group, or LGBTQI+ community org. Selected grantees also receive mentorship, psychological support, and skill development.

 

Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF) Cycle 3 – Global Youth Mobilisation / European Union

Global South (ODA-eligible countries)

Youth-led SDG initiatives; special focus on climate, gender equity, and underrepresented communities - EUR 500 to 5,000     March 31, 2026

Open to young people aged 14–30 from eligible countries, applying as individuals, informal groups, or registered youth-led organisations. Projects must address at least one SDG with a clear community benefit. Individuals and informal groups can apply for up to EUR 1,500; only registered organisations can access EUR 3,000–5,000.

 

Being Initiative Grant – Grand Challenges Canada / Government of Canada

India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Vietnam

Youth mental health prevention and promotion

CAD $300,000–$1,500,000

Open to any legally recognised organisation with proven, ready-to-scale innovations strengthening the environments where young people live, learn, and grow. Priority given to youth-led organisations based in the 12 eligible countries. Each country has a specific funding focus — read the full RFP before applying.

Deadline: March 31, 2026

 

Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures (MSISV) – Morgan Stanley

Global (501(c)(3) or international equivalent)

Environment and climate, health and wellbeing, economic empowerment, education and human capital.

Free five-month accelerator open to nonprofits and early-stage startups creating measurable social or environmental impact. Nonprofits must have 501(c)(3) status or equivalent, a clear business plan, and sustainable funding structures in place. Selected organisations receive funding, mentorship, dedicated office space, and access to Morgan Stanley’s global network.

Deadline: March 31, 2026

 

Youth To The Front Fund: The Creatives – We Are Family Foundation

Global (priority to BIPOC communities and allies)

Arts and social justice, creative activism, cultural storytelling, climate justice, education equity, civic engagement

Open to creatives and collectives with founding leaders under 30 whose work centres on BIPOC communities and challenges systemic injustice. Non-BIPOC applicants can apply if their project demonstrates clear allyship. Eligible disciplines include visual arts, performance, music, film, design, digital technology, and creative organising. Selected Frontliners receive funding, mentorship, and global network access.

Deadline: April 6, 2026