Addressing the Challenges Faced by New Refugees from Myanmar in Thailand
Thailand’s Humanitarian Assistance for Refugees
Thailand has been aiding refugees even though not a signatory to the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees. The country has a history of providing help to those fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmar.
The National Screening Mechanism
Thailand’s NSM aims to grant “protected person” status to refugees affected by persecution, ensuring rights and protections. However, challenges hinder its effective implementation.
Advocacy for Refugee Rights
Asylum Access Thailand and the Myanmar Response Network are working to highlight the issues faced by Myanmar refugees and provide recommendations for improvement.
Key Issue Areas Identified
- Enforcement of immigration law before other measures
- Lack of access to fundamental rights for refugees
- Detention of refugees in Immigration Detention Centers
- Lack of local community support for refugees
- Inadequacies in the National Screening Mechanism
Recommendations for Improvements
- Reinforce refugee protection through statutory laws
- Facilitate refugee integration into Thai society
- Empower local civil society to assist refugees
- Strengthen the protection of refugees in practice
For further details and the full report from the Myanmar Response Network, download the reports in English and Thai languages. The network is dedicated to supporting the rights and needs of refugees from Myanmar in Thailand.
Source: asylumaccess.org