Migrant Forum in Asia

Migrant Forum in Asia has published two new policy briefs:

Detention of undocumented migrants in Asia. The issue of the detention of migrants, both documented and undocumented, has been taken up by many civil society groups and migrants’ rights advocates across the world as states have become increasingly concerned with migrants entering, living, and working within their borders. While the means, mechanisms, and regulations for the detention of migrants vary from country to country, common issues persist stemming from the situation of extreme vulnerability in which migrants live, move, and work given their status as non-citizens in their countries of destination.

Stranded migrants. Growing numbers of people are migrating internationally, following increasingly complex (and sometimes clandestine) migration routes. This poses unique human rights and policy challenges for governments and intergovernmental agencies. Many migrants fall outside of the traditional classifications of “economic migrant,” “refugee,” and “asylum seeker”—definitions used to categorically determine what (if any) assistance or protection can be provided to them. The phenomenon of “mixed migration” has meant that some people fall into and out of such categories throughout the course of their migrations. Of particular concern to Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) are those referred to as “stranded migrants”—migrants who become “stuck” in the course of their migration, either in transit or host countries.

To access all MFA policy briefs, click here

The Indonesian People's Movement Against Neocolonialism-Imperialism (Gerak Lawan), a national coalition in Indonesia fighting neoliberalism, has released a Call to Action to mobilize not only against the WTO in Bali but against the free trade regime. Gerak Lawan would like to work hand in hand with other movements in Asia and around the world, to dismantle the ongoing efforts to revive the WTO in the upcoming Ministerial meeting to be held in Bali, Indonesia on 3-6 December 2013. Mirgrant Forum in Asia and other social movements in the region are supporting this call to action.

Deal a decisive blow to Neoliberalism

End the WTO and stop the new wave of Free Trade Agreements

The time is now for Economic Justice!

The capitalist system is in a deep crisis. Since the 2008 financial crisis where the system nearly imploded, it has yet to fully recover. And instead, the crisis has spread and has deepened the food, economic, energy and climate crises. The deep systemic crisis is crystal clear evidence that the neoliberal regime must come to an end. However, instead of listening to the 99 percent, the governments, led by the G-20, have imposed austerity measures, cutting social services, making the people pay for the bailout of banks and corporations and doing nothing to curb the speculators who played a major role in the crises.

To make it worse, these same governments have been reviving international institutions that have long been delegitimized, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and now the World Trade Organization (WTO). Together with these institutions, there is a new push for further free trade liberalization, pushing a new wave of free trade agreements (FTAs) such as the Transpacific Partnership Agreement, the US-EU FTA, the EU FTAs with countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, the Bilateral Investment Treaties and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and a new model of capitalist exploitation of nature called the “green economy.”

Taking Action to End Violence against Women

Migrant Forum in Asia’s Statement for International Women’s Day

8 March 2013

This day, International Women’s Day, is dedicated to Action to End Violence against Women, and Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) takes this occasion to highlight its continued stance in advocating social justice for migrant women, migrant workers and members of their families.

Milestones gained to protect and promote the rights of women migrant workers are reflected in international human rights and labor rights treaties such as the CEDAW, CMW and ILO C189, and in national laws that aim to ensure women’s rights. However, we are currently facing a moment where barriers to fully implementing these laws and accessing justice for rights violations endanger the empowerment and human dignity of women migrant workers.