About

The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) comprises a network of civil society organizations and individuals committed to advancing the rights of refugees in the Asia Pacific Region through information sharing, mutual capacity building and joint advocacy.

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 History (2008 – present)

APRRN was established at the 1^st Asia Pacific Consultation on Refugee Rights (APCRR1) in Kuala Lumpur held from 20-21 November 2008.

APRRN members work together throughout the year in a number of ways:

• As a Network
• Through APRRN Working Groups
• Through multilateral and bilateral arrangements
• Through APRRN events, such as the Asia Pacific Consultation on Refugee Rights, held annually

APRRN met again the 2^nd Asia Pacific Consultation on Refugee Rights (APCRR2) held in Bangkok from 7-8 October 2009.

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.

APRRN Working Groups

The four Geographical Working Groups are:

• South Asia
• Southeast Asia
• East Asia
• Australia and the Pacific

The five Thematic Working Groups are:

• Immigration Detention
• Legal Aid and Advocacy
• Women and Girls at Risk
• Right to Health
• International Advocacy

APRRN Host Organisation

The Host Organisation of the APRRN is the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum Asia).