About Us
The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) is an open and growing network of over 116 civil society groups and individuals committed to advancing the rights of refugees in the Asia Pacific Region through information sharing, mutual capacity building, and joint advocacy. APRRN has been functioning since its inception in November 2008 at the First Asia Pacific Consultation on Refugee Rights held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
APRRN Members are diverse, comprising service providers, human rights advocacy groups, research institutions, law firms providing pro-bono legal aid, and refugee community-based organisations. Almost all APRRN members are civil society groups working in their specific local contexts, lobbying their governments for changes in policies and legislation to protect the rights of refugees.
APRRN members are organized according to 4 Geographical and 4 Thematic Working Groups:
The four Geographical Working Groups are:
- South Asia
- Southeast Asia
- East Asia
- Australia and the Pacific
The four Thematic Working Groups are:
- Immigration Detention
- Legal Aid and Advocacy
- Women and Girls at Risk
- Right to Health
Structure of APRRN
The membership of APRRN constitutes the general body, the general body elects the steering committee at the bi annual general body meeting, usually coinciding with the APCRR. The secretariat provides support to the network reporting to the Chair of the steering committee, as well as the steering committee.
APRRN Core Principles
APRRN is an open network, and welcomes the involvement of new members who subscribe to the following core principles:
- Using a rights-based approach
- The humanitarian principles of non-discrimination, impartiality, humanity, independence and accountability to affected populations
- Do no harm
- Building solidarity amongst civil society actors in the Asia Pacific region
- Working responsibly and with respect, accountability and transparency with each other
Members are expected to uphold the rights of all persons, in particular refugees, stateless persons and forcibly displaced persons, as outlined in:
- The international refugee rights regime, which includes, inter alia, 1951 Convention Related to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol
- International human rights law
- International humanitarian law
- National and regional legislation
- International customary law
APRRN Steering Committee
The Steering Committee of the APRRN has been mandated to provide general guidance for the direction and structure of the Network. The Steering Committee is composed of representatives from the Geographical and Thematic Working Groups elected during APRRN’s annual consultations, as well as the APRRN Host Organisation and appointed representatives from refugee backgrounds as specified in the APRRN Articles of Association.
click here to see the present steering committee members
APRRN Secreteriat
The APRRN secreteriat is based in offices of the host organisation based in Bangkok, Thailand. The secreteriat is tasked with the responsiblity of coordinating the network, providing support, and implementing the strategic plan envisaged by the steering committee.
The secreteriat is headed by the coordinator and supported by a programme officer. Click here to contact the secreteriat.
