The Role of Civil Society Brahm Press Task Force on ASEAN Migrant - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Role of Civil Society

Brahm Press Task Force on ASEAN Migrant Workers Thailand Migrant Working Group

What is Civil Society?

• Non-government organizations
• Community-based organizations
• Mission oriented
• Complimentary to governments by filling gaps in

service

CSO= Civil Society Organizations

Pre-Pre-departure

• Community interventions are necessary in source

communities to provide information on “migration realities” prior to migrants making the decision to migrate.

• Pre-pre departure allows prospective migrants

and their families to weigh risks and benefits, and make good decisions.

• CSO interventions include: radio shows, public

forums, community sessions, booths at festivals / markets

Pre-departure

For those who chose to migrate for work, civil society organizations can:

• Contribute to development of holistic pre-

departure curriculums;

• Supplement official pre-departure trainings by

providing sessions on labour rights, how to access assistance, redress, and to approach sensitive issues such as HIV prevention;

• Provide information and HIV counseling during

health testing.

On-site

• Upon arrival – CSOs can provide orientation on laws

and policies, and provide contact information for assistance, including for NGOs, embassies and labour attaches;

• On-site - Civil society can access migrants and
• vercome communication barriers; they can act as a

linkage to migrants in hard-to-reach work places and communities;

• Interventions include: outreach activities and peer

networks, hotlines and on-line interventions, drop-in centers, printed materials and other forms of media (radio, video, social media) in migrant languages, case management and referral.

Return and reintegration

• CSOs act as a linkage to the communities where

migrants return, and can provide essential counseling and referral to services;

• Provide follow-up and support groups for those

with special needs such as: people living with HIV, survivors of violence, injury or disability, and women’s groups;

• Develop advocates and spokespersons to

represent migrants and their special needs to policy makers, communities and other stakeholders.

Policy making

• It is rare that migrant policy is drafted with inputs

from civil society or migrant groups, and that is why this occasion is a great opportunity.

• Civil society may not be able to provide fully

developed policies, but through their expertise and understanding of migrant workers, and the “Human Rights” perspective / framework they

• ffer, CSOs should have a legitimate place at the

table where they can provide inputs to the development of national policies and legislation that affect migrants’ rights and well being.