CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Regional Migrants’ Summit 2025
CONTEXT
Migration in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions in 2024 continued to be impacted with the same realities of inequities and uncertainties. The Asia Pacific Migration Report 2024 particularly gives a background of how migration in the region looked like last year, highlighting that labour migration remains the “predominant modality of people on the move” in Asia Pacific. Various UN agencies revealed, albeit being obvious for decades now, how irregular migration persists to be significant in the region. Trafficking and smuggling, insufficient ‘regular’ pathways and high costs of migration, increased securitisation of international borders, and use of immigration detention are just some of the risks that migrants and refugees have to confront in the face of irregular migration.
Beyond the thrust of the issues mentioned above, the global socioeconomic system of neoliberal globalisation is the leading driver of migration and other social conditions that contribute to the worsening state of migrants and displaced people today. The expansion of monopoly capital beyond the borders of politically and socio economically powerful states feeds forced migration of people through imposition of deregulated economic conditionalities and provision of support to oppressive regimes in developing countries among others. As a result, wages in developing countries decline, along with the worrying trend of privatising social services. Coupled with rising prices of basic commodities, the ‘race to the bottom’ conditions of citizens in the global South lead them towards labour migration in search of ‘better’ opportunities.
Climate change and conflict also drastically contribute to the displacement of people from their homelands. Similarly, the onslaught of wars and conflict have driven people away from their homes and cultures.
Such large-scale issues presented above are tied to the continuing abuses on the rights of migrants and displaced communities. For instance, migrant women continuously face discrimination in their workplaces abroad and are oftentimes relegated to low-paying jobs that do not address even the most basic needs. In addition, the intensification of trafficking cases in the region have also undermined the rights and welfare of many migrants. Even migrants rights defenders are unsafe whenever they pursue initiatives that genuinely forward the welfare of vulnerable populations.
Amidst all these, migrants courageously come together to mount campaigns and solidarity actions to combat the multifaceted issues they have to face everyday.
ABOUT THE SUMMIT
On June 20-21, 2024, the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) is organizing the Regional Migrants Summit 2025 with the theme, “Trends, Rights, and Actions: Understanding migration development in Asia Pacific,” in Quezon City, Philippines.
The Summit will gather migrants, advocates, civil society organizations, academics, members of faith-based organizations, and other individuals and groups to discuss migration issues related to neoliberal globalization, migrants rights, gender, migration governance, trafficking, conflict, and climate.
Through presentation of papers and other relevant materials revolving around the thematic areas mentioned, the Summit aims to deepen the understanding of different groups and stakeholders regarding pressing issues and trends in migration in Asia Pacific. At the same time, the discussions hope to expand the scope of research and social investigation on migration and deepen analysis on its relation with broader social and systemic issues that are not usually discussed in mainstream spaces.
Thematic areas to be discussed in the Summit:
Neoliberal Globalization
Migrants Rights
Gender
Migration Governance
Trafficking
Conflict
Climate
BE PART OF THE SUMMIT!
To those who are interested to present at the Summit, kindly send a 250-300 word abstract/summary of your work to apmigrants@gmail.com on or before 30 April 2025. Please use the subject line, “SURNAME-Organization: Migrants Summit 2025 Submission” and include the title of your work in the document. Kindly take note of the thematic areas mentioned above.
APMM will be shortlisting presenters as we receive the submissions so please look out for future information from us!
If you have any concerns or questions, contact Clarice Canonizado (claricecanonizado59@gmail.com) or Rey Asis (reyasis@gmail.com).
