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Time for A Change, World Refugee Day 2023
20 June, 2023 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Hear the voices from refugees – towards a more humane Thai refugee policy!
On World Refugee Day, 20 June 2023, six local and regional organizations are organizing a seminar talk on the topic of “Time for A Change World Refugee Day 2023,” which highlights current challenges faced by refugees. This is a great opportunity to present our policy on victims to the public and the Thai government. There will be a call to the new Thai government for a more humane refugee policy by representatives of political parties such as the Move Forward Party and Fair Party. We will also see a Short Film ‘The Nightmare and a Dream’, presented by the refugees.
The ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar is a significant reminder that the agency and the voices of refugees and asylum-seekers worldwide must be respected and supported. Humanity and do-no-harm principles must serve as any government’s standard operations to guarantee refugees’ fundamental rights to safety and an adequate standard of living, including access to health and education.
Thailand hosts nine recognized refugee camps along its border with Burma, housing around 90,000 refugees. These camps, referred to as Temporary Shelters by the Thai Ministry of Interior (MOI) and UNHCR, have been in existence for almost 40 years. Although Thailand has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention or its optional protocol, the Thai government has allowed these refugees to stay in Thailand on humanitarian grounds and has permitted UNHCR and NGOs to provide humanitarian support. Unfortunately, due to the decrease in humanitarian funding and restrictions on movement outside the camps, refugees have increasingly faced immense challenges to sustain their livelihoods, including food shortages and inadequate access to health and education.
As the Myanmar military junta has continued to target civilians along Thailand’s borders with airstrikes and artillery attacks, thousands of villagers have been fleeing from Myanmar to seek refuge in Thailand. Despite acute needs for subsistence relief items and safe shelter, these asylum seekers have been denied access to emergency assistance from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and non-governmental organizations, and have been forced to return to active conflict zones.
The challenges facing refugees in camps and new refugee arrivals will be presented by refugee representatives at the event, together with two short films. The event will screen one short film produced by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Myanmar. During the event, community-based representatives will present the ground situation of refugees in camps and the waves of new refugee arrivals. The newly elected members of the Thai Parliament from the Move Forward Party and Fair Party will also deliver their responses and engage in further discussions.
Participants will be able to hear the voices from inside the refugee community and exclusive interviews with speakers from the refugee community and MPs can be arranged for media.
The event will be conducted in English language and simultaneous interpretation in Thai will be provided. Please note that this is only for those who come to the event onsite, there will be only English descriptions for online participants.
The event is co-organized by Karen Peace Support Network, SEA Junction, ALTSEAN-Burma, Amnesty International Thailand, Progressive Voice, and Friends Without Borders Foundation.
Panelists:
- Dr. Eakpant Pindavanija, Social Research Chulalongkorn University
- Naw K’nyaw Paw, Karen Women’s Organization
- T. Naing, former urban refugee in the 90s
- Tisana Choonhavan, Move Forward Party
- Kannavee Suebsang, Fair Party
Moderator: Pippa Curwen
#Worldrefugee2023
Organizer
Karen Peace Support Network
KPSN is the largest Karen civil society network consisting of 30 organizations in Burma and Thailand. Its members have been providing support for vulnerable people and communities in this conflict-torn region for decades, striving to empower local communities, building transparent and accountable institutions, and helping to create sustainable and equitable peace in Burma.
SEA Junction
SEA Junction, established under the Thai non-profit organization Foundation for Southeast Asia Studies (ForSEA), aims to foster understanding and appreciation of Southeast Asia in all its socio-cultural dimensions- from arts and lifestyles to economy and development. Conveniently located at Room 407-8 of the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center or BACC (across MBK, BTS National Stadium), SEA Junction facilitates public access to knowledge resources and exchanges among students, practitioners, and Southeast Asia lovers. For more information see www.seajunction.org, join the Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/1693058870976440/, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @seajunction.
ALTSEAN-Burma
ALTSEAN-Burma (Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma) was formed in October 1996 by a diverse network of organizations and individuals at the Alternative ASEAN Meeting on Burma, held in Bangkok. Its mission is to develop and strengthen strategic relationships among key networks and organizations from Burma, Southeast Asia, and the international community; support cooperation and partnership among activists, particularly women, youth, ethnic groups, LGBTQ+, displaced people, migrants, and other marginalized communities; implement innovative strategies that are responsive to emerging needs and urgent developments; and produce practical resources for these purposes.
Amnesty International Thailand
Amnesty International Thailand (also known as Amnesty Thailand and AI Thailand) is a non-governmental organization focused on the protection of human rights in Thailand and worldwide with more than 1,000 members across Thailand. Amnesty Thailand is one of more than 50 sections that make up Amnesty International worldwide.
Progressive Voice
Progressive Voice is a participatory rights-based policy research and advocacy organization rooted in civil society, that maintains strong networks and relationships with grassroots organizations and community-based organizations throughout Myanmar. It acts as a bridge to the international community and international policymakers by amplifying voices from the ground and advocating for a rights-based policy narrative.
Friends Without Borders Foundation
Friends Without Borders Foundation started operations in 1999. The organization aims to carry out educational work, raise awareness, build capacity for human rights and peace of marginalized communities and coordinate a strong and sustainable public sector network. For more info: https://friends-without-borders.org/
