Advocacy at the ASEAN Level
At the regional level, MMN explores mechanisms of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as strategic venues to influence the discourse and regional framework concerning migration.
MMN regularly takes part in the annual ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML), which is a platform to review, discuss, and exchange best practices and ideas between governments, workers’ and employers’ organisations, and civil society stakeholders on key issues facing migrant workers in Southeast Asia. It also serves to develop recommendations to advance the implementation of the principles of the ASEAN Declaration on Migrant Workers (2007). Collectively with our members, MMN closely monitors the development of migration frameworks and policies at the ASEAN level, and responds to relevant changes to make sure they reflect the needs of migrant workers. See, for example, our statement in response to the signing of the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers in 2017.
MMN also regularly takes part in the ASEAN Civil Society Conference / ASEAN People’s Forum (ACSC/APF), an annual forum where Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and rights advocates from ASEAN member states convene to share their experiences working on a wide variety of issues, including those relating to migration. Over the years, MMN has organised a number of workshops at the ACSC/APF to raise awareness on migration issues in the Greater Mekong Subregion and to build networks and forge solidarity with CSOs. For reports of MMN’s involvement in previous AFMLs and ACSC/APFs, please refer to the Further Reading section below.
To enhance the capacity of migrant rights advocates to conduct advocacy at the ASEAN level, MMN has also conducted a number of activities aimed at increasing the understanding of grassroots CSOs on ASEAN migration frameworks and their ability to engage with the regional mechanisms. Details of these activities can be found under the Related Initiatives section.