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Resolving Policy Conundrums: Enhancing Humanitarian Protection in Southeast Asia

Knowledge Platform

Resolving Policy Conundrums: Enhancing Humanitarian Protection in Southeast Asia

The May 2015 humanitarian crisis stemming from irregular maritime flows of Rohingya and Bengalis in the Bay of Bengal brought migrant smuggling networks into sharp focus. Long-term systematic persecution and interethnic violence in Myanmar, and a lack of livelihood opportunities in Bangladesh (where many displaced Rohingya have fled) led to a surge in maritime migration to Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. This report examines the key features of migration in and through Southeast Asia and assesses the policy challenges and responses to the May 2015 smugglers' abandonment of Rohingya and Bengalis in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. The humanitarian crisis highlighted that the present array of policies and practices in Southeast Asia are not meeting the needs of policymakers, migrants, or the public—and fall short of balancing the need to prevent displacement and protect those who are displaced. The report concludes with a series of recommendations as policymakers recognize the further development of protection infrastructure must be a priority.

Date of Publication
Type of Resource
Target Audience
Government
Author
Marie McAuliffe
Source / Publisher
Migration Policy Institute (MPI)
Language
English
Geographic Scope
Sub-regional
Sub Regions
South-eastern Asia
Workstream Output
No
Regional Review Process
No
GCM Objectives
7
9
Cross Cutting Theme
Human rights
Keywords
Irregular migration
Smuggling of migrants
Trafficking in persons
Status
Published

*References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).