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 CPD has played a critical role in responses to migration crises through helping to strengthen regional responses via ASEAN and 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 fourteenth Asia Dialogue on Forced Migration (ADFM) meeting was convened on 21-22 August 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand, with representatives from refugee communities, government and civil society from eight countries
CPD was pleased to convene the eighth meeting of the Regional Peer-Learning Platform on Alternatives to Child Immigration Detention in person 18-20 February 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
Learning Together: Advancing Alternatives for Children is a joint paper from CPD’s Asia Dialogue on Forced Migration and the International Detention Coalition that reflects on five years of work in

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

Advancing humane, practical alternatives to child detention in the Indo-Pacific
Pursuing more effective, durable and dignified approaches to forced migration in the Indo-Pacific

Contact the focus area team

At the Centre for Policy Development, our team is at the forefront of policy research and innovation in Australia.

Whether you have an inquiry, feedback, or a collaboration idea, we’re eager to hear from you.

Use this form to get in touch and connect with our program specialists and policy experts.

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