Asia Europe Peoples Forum (AEPF 13): Migrant & Refugee Peoples in Asia & Europe: Rights and Realities-Strategies and Reflections
Saturday, May 22, 2021
Amsterdam 12:30 – 14:00 pm (CET), Manila 6:30 PM (PST), New Delhi 4:00 (IST)
During the AEPF 13, an Open Space on the Migrant and Refugee Peoples in Europe and Asia: Rights and Realities – Reflections and Strategies is being co-organised by: Mrinal Gore Interactive Center for Social Justice & Peace in South Asia, SENTRO Trade Union-Philippines in South East Asia (transnational migrant domestic workers organising in HongKong, Quatar etc); Waling-Waling Justice 4 All Migrants, Migreurop, Transnational Migrant Platform-Europe (TMP-E) and the Transnational Institute (TNI).
The Rights of Migrant and Refugee Peoples is an important cross-cutting and core political agenda in both regions. In both Asia and Europe, there are sites of mass forced displacement caused by impoverishment, climate change and war, as well as by the global re-structuring of labor. The mass violations of the rights of migrants and refugees are well documented as well as their struggle to re-claim their rights.
In this Open Space, we aim to share the main developments that are impacting on the working and living conditions of migrants and refugees in each region, as well as the strategies that are shaping the migrant and refugee response.
The overall objective is to contribute to buid a new human rights based narrative and to strengthen transnational o=solidarity
The Open Space is formatted as a Round Table
Programme
12.30pm – 12.35pm – Welcome Al
Nasreen Contractor (MRINAL GORE Center) & Brid Brennan, Corporate Power and Global Economic Justice Programme, Transnational Institute
Part 1: 12.35pm – 12.45pm –
What are the “crises” facing migrant and refugee peoples in each region and what needs to be done to protect the rights of refugees & migrants?
Overview from Europe, South East Asia & South Asia
Moderator: Nasreen Contractor
1. Europe: Brigitte Espuche, Migreurop
2. South East Asia: Josua Mata, General Secretary SENTRO Trade Union, Philippines
3. South Asia: Ranabir Samaddar, Political Scientist, Chair at Migration & Forced Migration Studies at Mahanirban Calcutta Research Group
12.45pm-13.00 Initial Respondents: South Asia: Babloo Loitongham & Nalini Ratanraja, South East Asia: Liezel Galdo of AMMPO-Malaysia, Europe: Nonoi Hacbang (Chair CFMW-Platform of Filipino Migrant Organisations in Europe) and Debbie Valencia MELISSA-Refugee Women Center/ Greece.
Open discussion
Part 2: 13.00 pm–13.15pm
What strategies are being implemented to realize measures to protect refugees & migrant workers’ rights at different levels? How can/should we involve civil society and engage with the governments?
Moderator: Brid Brennan
1.South Asia: Kavya Bharadkar, Lawyer and Political Analyst,Aajeevika Bureau, Udaipur, India
2. South East Asia: Shiela Estrada, Progressive Labour Union-Domestic Workers, HongKong
3. Europe: Jille Belisario, Transnational Migrant Platform-Europe (TMP-E)
13.15-13.40 Initial Respondants (2 mins): South Asia: Vibhuti Patel, South East Asia: Mary Ann Abunda of Sandigan Kuwait; Europe:, Angie Garcia, Waling-Waling Justice 4 All Migrants; Petra Snelders, Feminist activist, RESPECT Network Europe.
Open discussion
13.40pm – 14.00pm – Next Steps – Ways Forward
What Actions – Towards cross regional Networking & Mobilisation & Building a Global Pact of Solidarity?
Carlos Marentes, Border Agricultural Workers Project USA–México, Member of the International Coordinating Committee of La Vía Campesina and of the International Collective on Migration and Waged Workers
Open Discussion
Conclusion and Wrap Up
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Sunday, May 23
11.30-113.00 London, 12.30-14.00 Brussels, 18.30.20.00 Manila
Open Space activity on Migration post-Covid and the growing threat of anti-Asian racism in Europe [More information]