Become a Member

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. The APRRN is an open and growing network that welcomes the participation and inclusion of new members.

Criteria for Membership

  1. Membership is open to all civil society organizations and individuals committed to advocating for refugee rights in the Asia Pacific Region in collaboration with other members in the Network. This includes those based outside of the Asia Pacific region.
  2. Membership is not open to governmental, inter-governmental, para-governmental and para-military bodies; national human rights institutions; and members of the media. It is also not open to individuals who work for these organizations/bodies.

Expectations from Members

All members are expected to subscribe to the following core principles of the APRRN:

  • 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, the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol
  • International human rights law
  • International humanitarian law
  • National and regional legislation
  • International customary law

Members are expected to abide by APRRN Rules and Regulations.

Types of Membership

There are two types of membership: full membership open to organizations, and associate membership open to individuals.

As full members, organisations are required to:

  • Designate a primary point of contact for the Network, who may then nominate additional employees/volunteers to take part in Network activities
  • Inform the Network if they or their nominees are no longer employed by, or are volunteers of, their organisation

As full members, organisations have the following privileges:

  • If a vote is called in the Annual General Meeting of the APRRN, to exercise one vote
  • Endorse joint statements authorized by the APRRN Steering Committee
  • Hold a position in the Steering Committee

Individuals applying for associate membership will be asked for reasons why they cannot participate in the Network as full members.

Application for Membership

  1. All members must apply for membership by filling out the APRRN Application for Membership Form (scroll down for the form or click here). Before 1 July 2010, their application requires the endorsement of two individuals from different organisations who attended both APCRR1 and APCCR2. After 1 July 2010, their application requires the endorsement of two full members.
  2. All applications for membership are to be approved by a Sub-committee on Membership comprised of a minimum of 3 Steering Committee Members. Membership may be rejected if the criteria for membership are not met. Reasons for rejection will be provided in writing.
  3. Applications for membership are received throughout the year. Members will be notified about the outcome of their application within two months of their application.
  4. Upon approval, members must undertake to complete the APRRN Membership Survey within two months of their application.

Termination of Membership

Membership to the Network may be terminated by the Steering Committee on the following grounds:

  • If members are found to advocate or support a breach of human rights through their actions as stated in point 5
  • If members are found to be in serious breach of APRRN Rules and Regulations
  • If members are found to be in breach of the criteria for membership

The procedure for termination of membership is as follows. A member of the Network must lodge an official complaint about the member under consideration by filling in a Membership Complaint Form that provides the complaint itself and the evidence relating to the complaint. The complainant must be willing for his/her identity and that of his/her organization to be made known to the person/organization under consideration. The Sub-committee on Membership will evaluate this complaint, investigate the facts, and establish if this complaint meets the grounds for termination of membership. At the minimum, the investigation must include at least three attempts to interview the person/organization under scrutiny, thus allowing them the right of reply. The Sub-Committee will then propose a course of action to the rest of the Steering Committee who will effect a decision through an absolute majority vote. This process should take no longer than 3 months from the date of complaint.

Members may also terminate their own membership of the Network by filling out an APRRN Termination of Membership Form.

These membership procedures will be reviewed again at APCRR3.

Organisations wishing to be members can fill the form below, individuals wishing to be associate members please click here

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