By Centre for Gender and Forced Displacement (CGFD) and Office of Communications and Public Affairs
To mark World Refugee Day, the Centre for Gender and Forced Displacement (CGFD) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) organized a dialogue titled “Displacement Trajectories, Security Frameworks, and Regional Order: Rethinking Myanmar’s Refugee Question in South and Southeast Asia” on 24 June 2026.
The event brought together researchers, policymakers, humanitarian organizations, government representatives, civil society, faculty members, and students from AIT, Rangsit University, Thammasat University, and Chulalongkorn University, to discuss the changing realities of forced displacement in South and Southeast Asia, with a focus on refugees from Myanmar.
Opening the event, Professor Paula Banerjee, IDRC Endowed Research Chair at CGFD, reflected on the long history of human mobility and emphasized that protecting refugees is a shared regional and global responsibility that requires collaboration.
Professor Kyoko Kusakabe highlighted the ongoing displacement crisis in Myanmar, noting that displaced and stateless people remain among the world’s most vulnerable populations and are often excluded from formal protection systems. She underscored AIT’s commitment to advancing research, dialogue, and evidence-based policy on migration and forced displacement.
The event also featured a recorded message from Barham Salih of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Referring to recent discussions among the twelve IDRC Research Chairs on Forced Displacement, Salih emphasized the need to strengthen international protection systems at a time of record global displacement.
“At a moment of significant uncertainty, our collective task is not only to defend the principles of the international refugee regime, but to ensure that they continue to deliver protection and solutions for those who need them most. Our collective efforts have never been more critical.”
The keynote address was delivered by Ms. Sumbul Rizvi, former UNHCR Representative to Bangladesh. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience working with refugees, internally displaced people, stateless communities, and host populations across Asia, she introduced the concept of “Principled Protection through Pragmatic Governance (P3G).” She emphasized that humanitarian values must be supported by practical, context-specific policies.
Ms. Rizvi explained the importance of distinguishing between refugees, migrants, internally displaced persons, and stateless people, as each group is protected under different legal frameworks. While emergency assistance remains essential, she stressed that long-term protection should also provide access to education, skills training, employment, and opportunities for self-reliance.
“Being displaced is not someone’s whole story. It is not an identity; it is an experience.”
She also encouraged governments and development partners to better connect humanitarian and development efforts by investing in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and employment that benefit both displaced people and host communities.
The panel discussion focused on one of the region’s most significant policy developments—the right to work for displaced people from Myanmar in Thailand.
Ms. Jacqueline Strecker of UNHCR highlighted Thailand’s recent policy reforms, noting that more than 5,500 displaced people are now employed or progressing through employment pathways under the government’s right-to-work initiative. She explained that access to legal employment, identity documents, healthcare, and financial services strengthens both refugee protection and local economic development.
Representing Thailand’s Office of the National Security Council, Ms. Taksaporn Noikaew discussed the country’s evolving approach to displacement. She noted that temporary shelters established decades ago have become long-term realities, requiring more sustainable policies. The August 2025 Cabinet Resolution expanding work opportunities for displaced people from Myanmar, she said, is an important step toward greater self-reliance and social inclusion.
Ms. Naiyana Thanawattho of Asylum Access Thailand emphasized the need to extend protection beyond formal camps, particularly for people displaced after Myanmar’s 2021 military coup. She highlighted the importance of legal empowerment, better access to information, and greater participation of refugees in decision-making.
Dr. Sirada Khemanitthathai, IDRC Research Chair on Forced Displacement in Southeast Asia at Chiang Mai University’s Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development (RCSD), emphasized that displacement experiences vary greatly and require continued research on labour market integration, social cohesion, and public perceptions. She noted that evidence-based research is essential for informing policy, addressing misinformation, and supporting more inclusive responses.
The event concluded with a shared commitment among governments, researchers, international organizations, and civil society to strengthen collaboration and develop more inclusive protection systems. Participants agreed that lasting solutions must go beyond emergency assistance by creating pathways to legal protection, employment, self-reliance, and long-term human development for displaced people and their host communities.
