Mapping Migration Issues, Needs and Responses in the Greater Mekong Subregion

The project, Mapping Migration Issues, Needs and Responses in the Greater Mekong Subregion was the precursor to the creation of the Mekong Migration Network (MMN). In September 2001, Asian Migrant Centre (AMC) together with its regional and country partners launched a collaborative research project with the aim of surveying and identifying the key issues, needs, action groups, and responses on migration-related issues in the six countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). 

As part of the project, MMN produced two publications entitled Annotated Bibliography: Migration in the Greater Mekong Sub-region and Resource Book Vol. 1: Migration Needs, Issues and Responses in the Greater Mekong Subregion (2002). These are intended to serve as reference tools for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), governments, inter-governmental organisations, and migrant rights advocates in formulating better responses and programmes promoting migrants’ rights and welfare in the GMS.

Project Partners

Burma/Myanmar Country Research Team (CRT)

  • Jackie Pollock, Coordinator of the Burma/Maynmar CRT (Migrant Assistance Program)
  • Soe Soe (Federation of Trade Unions- Burma)
  • Myint Wai (Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma)
  • Queenie East (Altsean-Burma)
  • Nang Hseng Muay (Shan Women ’s Action Network)

Cambodia CRT

  • In Vuthy, Coordinator of Cambodia CRT(The Cambodian Human Rights Task Force)
  • Latt Ky (Cambodia Human Rights and Development Association)
  • Mao Kosal (Cambodia Labour Organisation)
  • Sen Seth (Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Association)

Vietnam CRT

  • Huynh thi ngoc Tuyet, Coordinator of Vietnam CRT (Center for History, Institute of Social Sciences in Ho Chi Minh City, National Center for Humanities and Social Sciences)
  • Nguyen thi Minh Huong (Department of Research, Vietnam Woman Union)
  • Le thi Hanh (Center for Social Work and Community Development Research & Consultancy)
  • Le thi My Huong (Center for Social Work of Youth Federation)
  • Tran Hong Van (Center for Gender and Family, Institute of Social Sciences in Ho Chi Minh City, National Center for Humanities and Social Sciences)

Yunnan, China CRT

  • Pu Hongyan, Coordinator of Yunnan CRT (Sociology Institute, Yunnan Academy of Sciences)
  • Tong Jieyi (Yunnan Reproductive Health Research Association)
  • Ma Lijing (Yunnan Women and Child Development Center)
  • Luohan (Yunnan Normal University)

Thailand CRT

  • Supawadee Petrat and Pornpimon Rojianapo, writers of the Thailand country report
  • Songkiat Tung-yen (The Mekong Subregional Program-Christian Conference in Asia)
  • Sr. Meg & Pahubud McGuigan (Catholic Migration Commission-Wiomen’s Desk)
  • Fr. Bob & Tu Lu (Catholic Commission for Migrants and Prisoners)
  • Porntip Puckmai (EMPOWER Chiangmai)

Key Activities

AMC and project partners met for the first time in November 2001 for a researchers’ workshop to discuss and decide on the research parameters of the first resource book. After the workshop, Country Research Teams (CRTs) were formed in Thailand, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, Yunnan (China), and Vietnam. The CRTs were composed of researchers from NGOs, trade unions, churches, migrant support groups, universities, and other research institutes. In some cases, government-related agencies and relevant United Nations and international agencies were also involved. All CRT members were committed to conducting research on migration through human rights-based and gender-sensitive frameworks. 

Each CRT developed methodologies and conducted research on migration issues in their respective country. Methodologies included: secondary data gathering, key informant interviews, field visits and observations, and mapping/analysis of issues, needs, responses, and strategies. Some CRTs also conducted case study interviews. In July 2002, the CRTs and other project partners met at a concluding workshop in Bangkok, Thailand, where they presented their research findings and jointly conducted a mapping exercise on the key issues, needs, and responses relating to migration in the GMS. Based on results of this workshop, country chapters were drafted and published in Resource Book Vol. 1: Migration Needs, Issues and Responses in the Greater Mekong Subregion (2002).

The Annotated Bibliography: Migration in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (Fourth Edition, 2009) was produced to serve as a guide to the available literature on migration issues in the GMS. It also highlighted some of the research trends and gaps. The annotated bibliography was last updated 2009 in its fourth edition.

Publications