By the Centre for Gender and Forced Displacement (CGFD)
Yogyakarta, Indonesia – On January 23 and 24, the Centre for Gender and Forced Displacement (CGFD) at AIT, supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), held a series of critical discussions focused on forced displacement, statelessness, and migration governance in Southeast Asia. The event brought together leading scholars, policymakers, and humanitarian practitioners to address the persistent challenges of refugee integration and the limitations of state-centric governance models in the region.
The discussions, led by experts in the field, emphasized the urgent need for inclusive and sustainable frameworks to support displaced communities, particularly the Rohingya.
Notable attendees included Prof. Paula Banerjee, IDRC Chair at CGFD; Roula El-Rifai, Senior Program Specialist at IDRC; Prof. Ranabir Samaddar, a leading scholar on migration and displacement; Prof. Purwo Santoso, an expert on governance and refugee policies in Indonesia; Prof. Nasreen Chowdhory, a scholar specializing in citizenship and statelessness; Dr. Mikio Oishi, an expert on migration policies in Malaysia; and Ms. Yuniar Paramita Sari, representing Migrasia, an NGO focused on human trafficking and labor exploitation. Dr. Priya Singh, Postdoctoral Researcher at CGFD, was also present, contributing insights on migration and regional policies.
A Call for Policy Overhaul and Regional Cooperation
Professor Paula Banerjee emphasized the systemic neglect faced by stateless populations, particularly the Rohingya. She stated: “The Rohingya crisis is not just about Myanmar—it is about how the world chooses to deal with those it refuses to recognize. Statelessness is one of the greatest injustices of our time, yet we continue to see the same reactive policies rather than proactive solutions.”
The conversation extended to the role of ASEAN in addressing displacement, with several experts questioning whether regional frameworks can evolve to provide long-term protection for refugees. While ASEAN’s non-interference principle has traditionally hindered collective action, some speakers argued that the region must rethink its approach to avoid further humanitarian deterioration.
From Humanitarian Response to Sustainable Inclusion
Roula El-Rifai, Senior Program Specialist at IDRC, stressed the need to shift from short-term humanitarian responses to policies that allow displaced communities to rebuild their lives. “We cannot continue treating refugees as temporary populations when we know they are here to stay. Sustainable economic and social inclusion must be part of the conversation,” she said.
Participants explored alternative governance models that go beyond state-centered refugee policies. Several scholars highlighted community-led initiatives, informal protection mechanisms, and cross-border collaboration as viable pathways for navigating legal and bureaucratic hurdles that prevent long-term solutions.
Prof. Ranabir Samaddar, drawing on comparative migration studies, noted that “A humanitarian response alone is insufficient—we need political will and a fundamental shift in governance structures. If countries fail to address statelessness, they risk perpetuating cycles of displacement for generations to come.”
Prof. Purwo Santoso added that local governments and informal networks in Indonesia have already demonstrated successful grassroots-led interventions, showing that solutions need not always be top-down.
The Way Forward
The two-day event concluded with a strong call for greater policy engagement and international cooperation. With the Rohingya crisis unresolved and new migration challenges emerging across Asia, the discussions in Yogyakarta reinforced the pressing need for innovative, inclusive, and sustainable solutions to statelessness and forced displacement.
