Migrants and Advocates Dialogue on Meaningful Participation in the GCM Process

The dialogue was co-organized by Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM), Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law, and Development (APWLD), Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), Asia Pacific Research Network (APRN), CARAM Asia, Churches Witnessing With Migrants (CWWM), Films4Peace Foundation and International Migrants Alliance (IMA) Asia Pacific, and happening on 15 April 2022, at 1 PM Hong Kong time, online.  

The dialogue was moderated by Rey Asis of APMM and was opened with a welcome speech from Aaron Ceradoy, General Manager of the APMM. Aaron mentioned that the dialogue is a continuing process of migrants and advocates in the Asia Pacific to ensure that the voices of migrants from the ground are really projected and registered in the process of the Global Compact on Migration. Aaron hopes for a meaningful dialogue that will lead to concrete resolutions and cooperation for the meaningful participation of migrants. 

As part of an effort to understand what meaningful participation is to migrants and refugees, some recorded videos of migrants and refugees were shown. Most of them were talking about the importance of their participation in the discussions and how the result will affect them. 

Sringatin, an Indonesian domestic worker in Hong Kong gave a speech on the situation of domestic migrant workers, from the hardship that forced them to migrate to problems faced by migrant domestic workers at the placement country. She also questioned GCM, why not so many migrants aware of it? Why are migrant workers not included in the process at the national and regional levels? She also shares the challenges to migrants that avoid them to be part of the GCM and other related UN processes. Sringatin calls her fellow migrants and advocates to continue the work of organizing campaigns to address their problems and defend their human rights. 

Rev. Cathy Chang reiterated the “nothing about us, without us” call from the migrants. She mentions meaningful participation as a tool or matrix that is based on migrants’ views, that can be evaluated. She also shares her stories of hardship to get visas for migrants and advocates who wanted to participate in the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) on GCM which will be happening next month. 

Another sequel of videos of migrants and refugees was shown. Again, the video showed the situation of migrant workers, who are left behind and have no significant participation in GCM processes.

Pia Oberoi from the UN Regional Network on Migration, shares the importance of meaningful participation especially in the core of human rights, because participation is in the framework, in the principle of “leave no one behind”. She said that the implementation of GCM is not happening in the meeting hall, but happening in the community, where we can ensure the follow-up of the GCM. 

During the open forum, Asel from Kyrgyzstan shares the situation of women migrants in central Asia. She mentions that women migrants were vulnerable due to patriarchy in the region. Ka Mei from APWLD asked Pia about the point of participation of civil society in the IMRF. Bilal from Bangladesh asked about capacity-building mechanisms for the migrants and engagement mechanisms for migrants. Aaron from APMM asks Pia about the mechanism to speak in the IMRF. 

Pia was answered based on her knowledge. She said that once the registration is accepted, participants can access the UN building in New York and be part of the process. Although, she admits that there is no selection committee to determine speakers in the IMRF, and at the end, it will be decided by the secretary general based on recommendations from the UN Migration Network. For the capacity building and engagement for migrants, Pia asks for ideas from the floor as she thinks that will be the best way to capacitate migrants. Pia elaborates on the progress declaration, strengthening the means of implementation. 

Hafsar Tameesuddin, a refugee, elaborates her perspective on meaningful participation, that it is not limited to being in the room, but beyond it, to be part of the discussion and consideration. 

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