Burma/Myanmar Civil Society Organization Country Visit to Thailand

 

From 23 to 26 November 2016, civil society organization (CSO) representatives from Burma/Myanmar participated in a country visit to Chiang Mai, Thailand, organized by the Mekong Migration Network (MMN). The visit followed MMN’s Myanmar National Training on Responses to Labour Migration, which was held in early September 2016.

Seven participants took part in the visit representing CSOs from across Burma/Myanmar, including: 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, Federation for Education and Development (FED), Sex Workers in Myanmar Network (SWIM), Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM), Let’s Help Each Other (LHEO), Civil and Political Rights Campaign Group (CPRC), and Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP).

The objective of the Thailand Country Visit was for participants to gain a better understanding of cross-border labour migration processes and available supports to migrants in a destination country. During the visit, delegates had the opportunity of engaging in insightful discussions with organizations working to support the rights of migrants in Thailand – such as Workers Solidarity Association (WSA) – and with migrant communities themselves. MMN member organizations, namely MAP Foundation, Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN), and EMPOWER Foundation, hosted the participants and shared their perspective on the situation of migrants living in Thailand, as well as their experience with and strategies for working on migrant labour issues as members of civil society.

The week’s activities equipped CSO representatives with knowledge on multimedia documentation, radio broadcasting, women’s empowerment, and migrant labour rights. It is hoped that participating and hosting organizations will explore ways to collaborate and engage in cross-border advocacy actions to support the rights of migrants from Burma/Myanmar in Thailand in the future.

 

 

Please find here for the full Report: Thailand Country Visit Report