{"id":5225,"date":"2016-10-29T21:26:23","date_gmt":"2016-10-29T13:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mekongmigration.org\/?p=5225"},"modified":"2021-07-20T14:05:26","modified_gmt":"2021-07-20T06:05:26","slug":"press-release-beyond-tolerance-living-together-with-migrants-a-photo-exhibition-documentary-launch-in-yangon-myanmar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mekongmigration.org\/?p=5225","title":{"rendered":"PRESS RELEASE: Beyond “Tolerance”: Living Together with Migrants \u2013 A Photo Exhibition & Documentary Launch in Yangon, Myanmar"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Friday, 28 October 2016, the social inclusion of migrants and migrant returnees was collectively endorsed at the Mekong Migration Network\u2019s (MMN\u2019s) opening event of \u201cBeyond \u2018Tolerance\u2019: Living Together with Migrants,\u201d a photo exhibition and multimedia documentary, held at Myanmar Deitta gallery in Yangon.<\/p>\n

At the event, Amyotha Hluttaw Member of Parliament U Kyaw Htwe, U Ko Ko Gyi and Daw Thet Thet Aung of the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, Deputy Director Daw May Thu Nyo of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, Chief Technical Advisor Ms. Jackie Pollock of the International Labour Organization, Regional Manager Mr. Sopheap Suong of the Cambodia Women\u2019s Crisis Center, returning Myanmar migrant Daw Thiri, documentary photographer Mr. John Hulme, and Research Officer Ms. Carli Melo of the Mekong Migration Network discussed the issue of promoting social inclusion among migrant returnees in Myanmar.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to create jobs that are useful for them [migrants] here. When they come back [to Myanmar] they usually can\u2019t find any jobs and need to return. This becomes a cycle. We need to break this cycle,\u201d U Kyaw Htwe, Amyotha Hluttaw MP and President of the Domestic and International Labour Committee, told the media at the event.<\/p>\n

U Ko Ko Gyi, General Secretary and prominent leader of 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, stressed the need to recognize the skills that migrants gain abroad and apply these skills to the national development of Myanmar. In his presentation, U Ko Ko Gyi asserted, \u201cMigrants are building this country. We must ensure that they are also building a better life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms. Jackie Pollock of ILO-Yangon spoke of the alienation felt by migrants in Singapore who are \u201clooked down upon, pitied, and disrespected.\u201d She explained, \u201cThe stigma runs so deep that women said they never told their families that they were domestic workers; they said they were teachers and shop workers.\u201d Her presentation highlighted the exclusionary effects of temporary migration policies and the need to amend such policies in order to promote inclusion amongst migrant communities.<\/p>\n

Representing the Cambodia Women\u2019s Crisis Center \u2013 an MMN member organization \u2013 Mr. Sopheap Suong remarked on the similarities between the situation of migrant returnees in Myanmar and Cambodia, which include migrant returnees\u2019 limited access to adequate health services and financial support and the lack of absentee voting systems.<\/p>\n

Daw Thet Thet Aung of 88 Generation Peace and Open Society proposed recommendations to the Government of Myanmar, which are outlined in MMN\u2019s Advocacy Paper titled: \u201cPermanently Temporary: Examining the Impact of Social Exclusion on Mekong Migrants.\u201d These recommendations include simplifying requirements to secure national identity cards, establishing more formal and appropriate educational provisions for migrants and their families, providing psycho-social and financial support, and recognizing the qualifications and certifying the skills acquired by migrants.<\/p>\n

Daw Thiri concluded the presentations by sharing her experience migrating to Japan under the Technical Intern Training Program. After experiencing a reduction in her wage and breach of contract, Daw Thiri sued Myanmar employment agencies Htay Service and Myanmar Express Link as well as Japanese agents.<\/p>\n

Around 70 audience members occupied Myanmar Deitta on Friday afternoon representing civil society organizations, labour unions, the Government of Myanmar, and the local press. The event included the launch of MMN\u2019s Myanmar-language multimedia documentary and was succeeded by a two-day photo exhibition \u2013 both of which showcase images of migrants\u2019 daily lives in Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, and Japan captured by documentary photographer Mr. John Hulme.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/p>\n

Mekong Migration Network (MMN) is a sub-regional network of civil society organizations working towards the protection and promotion of migrants\u2019 rights in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (website: www.mekongmigration.org, phone\/fax: +6653-283259).<\/p>\n

This event and exhibition were part of a wider project supported by the Toyota Foundation. Prior to this event, the photos were exhibited in Bangkok, Thailand, from 8-16 October at SEA Junction and in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 21-23 October at Meta House (German Cambodian Cultural Center).<\/p>\n

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