Mixed Migration in the Asia-Pacific Region

Presentation by UNHCR

Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Personsand Related Transnational Crime

Workshop on Regional Protection, Resettlement and RepatriationBali, Indonesia; 7-8 June 2010

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Overview

• Mixed movements and triggers

• Key statistics in the region

• Key movements

• Protection environment

• Factors affecting irregular movements

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Protection and migration in the Asia-Pacific

People move for a web of reasons

Protection-driven movements triggered by human rights violations, armed conflict, serious

disturbances of public order

Economic based, including labour migration

Protection-based social factors

(family reunification and education)

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People on the Move subjected to Smugglers and Traffickers

Economic Migrants, Refugees and Asylum-Seekers:

– Travel in same directions– Use same routes and means of transport– Face same risks on route

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Main Source Countries* in the Region(Estimated number of persons)

*Source: 2009 Annual Statistical Report for UNHCR’s geographical Asia-Pacific Region. Figures rounded to the nearest thousand.

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Main Host Countries* in the Region(Estimated number of persons)

*Source: 2009 Annual Statistical Report for UNHCR’s geographical Asia-Pacific Region. Figures rounded to the nearest thousand.

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Change in Newly registered asylum-seekers* from 2009 to 2010 for key countries in the Region

Country of Asylum

1Jan-31Mar09 1Jan-31Mar10Change in Number

Percentage Change

Australia 1,259 2,444** + 1,185 + 94%

India 847 1,362 + 515 + 61%

Indonesia 498 968 + 470 + 94%

Malaysia 4,439 14,168 + 9,729 + 219%

Thailand 390 557 + 167 + 43%

Total 7,433 19,499 +12,066 +162%

* Source: 1st Quarterly Statistical Reports 2010. For Australia, figures are reported by UNHCR Canberra.** Newly registered asylum-seekers in Australia is the total number of protection visa applications, comprising all “onshore arrivals” (Australian mainland) during first quarter 2010, and a number of “offshore arrivals” (Christmas Island) who became eligible to apply for a protection visa in first quarter 2010.

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Malaysia Nepal ThailandOthers in Asia & the

Pacific

Total Asia & the

PacificWorld

Submitted 10,228 22,139 19,879 3,215 55,461 128,558

Departed 7,509 17,442 16,835 2,546 44,332 84,657

Resettlement Figures (Total 2009)

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Key Movements in the Region

LEGEND

CoO: Myanmar

CoO: Sri Lanka

CoO: Afghanistan

Return to Afghanistan

CoO: IraqCoO: Iraq

CoO: Myanmar

CoO: Sri Lanka

CoO: Afghanistan

Return to Afghanistan

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Some factors affecting movements

• Armed conflict • Human insecurity• Demand for foreign labour• People smuggling rings• Disparate standards of protection• Access to solutions

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Protection Environment in the Region

Lack of legal and social framework to protect refugees and asylum-seekers:– Accession rate to Refugee

Convention low– Processing arrangements– Use of detention to curb irregular

migration– Few national asylum systems in

place– Low standard of treatment and

poor access to basic services and employment

– Few available solutions

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