Forced Migration in Southeast Asia

Fostering government collaboration in the Asia Pacific, improved responses to mass displacement, and better support for displaced communities in Southeast Asia.

Over the past decade, rising conflict, inequality, and climate change forced millions to flee their homes.

Forced migration is an issue no single country can solve alone, so CPD works to foster government collaboration in the Asia Pacific, advocating for improved regional governance and coordinated responses to mass displacement, long-term solutions to Myanmar’s refugee crisis, and better support for displaced communities in Southeast Asia.

CPD leverages its networks to influence regional policy and national reforms in order to improve the lives of those displaced in the region.

We produce research reports and briefing papers, and coordinate crucial regional forums for candid discussions between leaders across nations and sectors. These include the Asia Dialogue on Forced Migration and the Alternatives to Child Detention Peer Learning Platform.

Through this work has played a critical role in responses to migration crises through its work with the Bali Process and continues to work with government and NGOs both in Australia and throughout Southeast Asia to promote more humane treatment and better outcomes for displaced persons.

Focus area experts

Recent work

The Thirteenth Asia Dialogue on Forced Migration meeting (ADFM) was delighted to convene its thirteenth meeting in Kuala Lumpur on 7-8 May 2024. Participants discussed the the secretariat's new report
From Crisis to Collaboration: Reflections on ASEAN's protection mechanisms for forced migration is a paper from CPD's Asia Dialogue on Forced Migration that looks at how existing ASEAN frameworks and
Displacement from Myanmar: How We Got Here and What More Can Be Done is a paper from the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP) that looks at the historical context of

In the media

In 2023, one in eight Rohingya refugees who undertook the perilous journey across the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal was reported to have died or gone missing. This makes it possibly the most dangerous refugee journey in the world.
ASEAN is often seen as hesitant to tackle sensitive issues like refugees and forced migration, particularly given Myanmar’s membership in the 10-country bloc.
The growing weakness of Myanmar’s military junta has created opportunities for international actors to bring about lasting stability, according to a new report, despite global responses to the civil war being ineffective so far.
There are currently hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of refugees in Southeast Asia. Yet, we and many countries in the region do not have a comprehensive refugee rights and protections framework.
The Albanese government has promised $2 billion to help mitigate perceived and actual risk across South-east Asia. But that’s not a straightforward task.
The ASEAN Summit's maritime cooperation and energy transition streams have attracted a lot of interest, the represent the nexus of several significant the region is facing that will require strong cooperation between nations to solve.

Related initiatives

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