The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network Dr Savitri Taylor, Associate Professor, Law School, La Trobe University 8 August 2014

2 La Trobe University What is APPRN? Hong Kong 4 1 Macau 1 1 Maldives 1 1 Iran 1 Distribution of APRRN’s publicly listed organizational members 3 UK 3 3 USA 3 1 1

Current APRRN Structure 3 Diagram taken from APRRN website

4 La Trobe University Intertwining Promotes alternatives to detention Formally launched in June 2006 Became incorporated NGO in March 2009 Secretariat based in Melbourne, Australia Offices in Mexico, Malaysia and Germany Over 250 members in 60 countries (some also members of APRRN) Member of APRRN Promotes refugee rights and legal representation in the Global South Established in 2007 Secretariat is Fahamu Refugee Programme (member of APRRN; merged with International Refugee Rights Initiative In July 2014) About 34 members in 25 countries (some also members of APRRN)

5 La Trobe University APPRN Activities Networking and Information Sharing among Members Capacity Building of Members Advocacy

6 La Trobe University Advocacy: National Societies Country of focusNo. of Statements Australia5 Bangladesh1 Burma2 Japan1 Malaysia1 New Zealand2 South Korea1 Sri Lanka2 Taiwan1 Thailand3 Regional4

7 La Trobe University Advocacy: Inter-Governmental Entities

8 La Trobe University Advocacy: Individual Governments Claimed achievements in APRRN Annual Report 2012: “ APRRN members in Nepal engaging with the national legislative assembly to table national legislation on refugee protection, a result of APRRN training on strategic advocacy Lowest recorded refugee detainees in the Bangkok Immigration Detention Centre (IDC) in 10 years Passing of South Korea’s domestic refugee law… Increased protection for refugees in Indonesia, through drafting of Standard Operating Procedures The development of national pilot projects for alternatives to detention to be implemented in 2013 across a range of countries.” Savitri Taylor, 'Civil Society and the Fight for Refugee Rights in the Asia Pacific Region' in A. Francis and R. Maguire (eds), Protection of Refugees and Displaced Persons in the Asia Pacific Region (Great Britain: Ashgate, 2013) 35-52

9 La Trobe University Developing APRRN’s Regional Protection Framework Bali Process Member countries (45): Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, Fiji, France (New Caledonia), Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kiribati, Lao PDR, Macau SAR, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Palau, PNG, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tonga, Turkey, UAE, USA, Vanuatu, Viet Nam Member agencies (3): IOM, UNHCR and UNODC Other participating countries (18): Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, European Commission, Finland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Other participating agencies (10): ADB, APC, ICMPD, ICRC, IFRC, IGC, ILO, Interpol, UNDP, World Bank

10 La Trobe University Developing APRRN’s Regional Protection Framework Regional Protection Framework Vision for Regional Protection “A broad, high-level statement about what the successful outcome of our work would look like. · What do we want to see in the region in years’ time? · What is realistic and achievable?” Plan of Action “The operational element laying out what we will do as APRRN members and our recommendations about what governments, UNHCR, donors and others should be doing in order for our vision to be achieved. · How do we operationalize the framework? · Who must do what to ensure the vision becomes a reality?” Research & Consultation Framework “Will facilitate research and consultations towards the development of the Vision and Plan of Action, help map and prioritise the key issues of interest to stakeholders, and focus on what is working well already. · What do we need to know in order move forward? · What topics will we prioritize and what questions do we need to ask?” From report on APRRN Consultations and Symposium, 8-11 September 2013, Tokyo

11 La Trobe University Developing APRRN’s Regional Protection Framework Vision for Regional Protection: Common Structure of Drafts 1 & 2 Background [2 paragraphs] Preamble [7 paras/10 paras] Vision Statement [5 paras/6 paras] Freedom from Violence, Coercion, Deprivation, Exploitation & Abuse [6 paras/9 paras] Access to Essential Services [5 paras] Legal Protection [4 paras/8 paras] Access to Durable Solutions [6 paras/7 paras] Highest Possible Level of Self-Sufficiency [3 paras] Partnerships for a Supportive Operating Environment [6 paras/7 paras]

12 La Trobe University Developing APRRN’s Regional Protection Framework Vision (June 2013 draft)Vision (June 2014 draft) 1,900 words approx.2,800 words approx. because the list of desiderata is longer and articulated in more detail than in the first draft. Refers mostly to refugees, asylum seekers, & stateless persons with occasional mention of IDPs and others. Refers throughout to refugees, asylum seekers, torture survivors and complainants, trafficked persons, IDPs, stateless persons and returnees (shorthanded as “people in need of protection”) or else “all persons” Focus is on international law relating to refugees and stateless persons Draws on all possible sources of international human rights obligation and on “soft law” Contemplated actors are primarily governments, NGOs, and IGOs Far more references to “all actors”.

Thank you