Report on the Consultations Between UNHCR and Humanitarian and Human Rights NGOs in the Asia and Pacific Region on Strengthening Collaboration in Support of the International Refugee Protection System^*

(Held at the Novotel Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand, 11 to 12 November, 1999)

Summary

Representatives of 26 humanitarian and human rights Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) based in the Asia and Pacific region met with senior officials of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bangkok, Thailand on 11-12 November, 1999. It was the first of four planned regional “Reach Out” meetings to take place^** and its purpose was to discuss ways to improve collaboration in support of the international refugee protection system. Discussions were held on a non-attribution basis, under the Chatham House Rule, and were conducted with the assistance of an independent Moderator and two Rapporteurs, one from an NGO and one from UNHCR. The Agenda and List of Participants are annexed.

The main conclusions and recommendations of the meeting were as follows:

1. In order to promote more effective UNHCR-NGO coordination and collaboration on refugee protection at the field level consideration should be given to establishing regional and/or country-level NGO forums focussing on protection issues and the promotion of refugee law.
2. Regional NGO Focal Points should be identified to develop, in cooperation and coordination with the central UNHCR-NGO Reach Out Steering Committee, appropriate strategies for pursuing the following priorities/objectives:
   • Promoting accessions to the 1951 refugee convention and the conventions related to stateless persons and the reduction of statelessness;
   • Improving access by regional NGOs to information on refugee situations, refugee protection needs and protection-related developments in the region;
   • Expanding protection-related training and education activities for NGO staff, covering international refugee law, relevant national laws and other pertinent international instruments, including Human Rights instruments.
   • Developing for NGO use protection-related training and information materials, in regional languages where feasible, and with due regard for cultural sensitivities.

Discussion

Preliminary Comments

It was suggested that the discussion to take place could be framed with reference to topics encompassed by ten key terms or headings:

1. Protection: including access to people, safety from refoulement, respect for basic rights, protection for the protectors, implementation of relevant standards, and monitoring and advocating for accountability;
2. Prevention: of violence and abuses in the country of origin, by improving human rights;
3. Inclusion: promoting non-discriminatory policies in both countries of origin and of asylum;
4. Specification: recognising that certain groups have specific needs, including women and children and those subject to trafficking/forced conscription;
5. Identification: determining who is a refugee, through the establishment of criteria, application of definitions, etc. Under this heading also is the question: How do NGOs identify themselves — as human rights workers, as humanitarians?
6. Information: needed for protection and to promote accessions to the Conventions, etc. also the question of how to deal with sensitive information?
7. Capacitation: building capacity of NGOs, officials, and others through training and other means;
8. Cooperation: between governments, between International Organisations, between NGOs and among all of the aforementioned;
9. Intervention: determining who intervenes when there is a rights violation;
10. Participation: of refugees themselves, NGOs, host communities, etc.

It was noted that the Asia and Pacific region is home to more than half of human kind and has seen a large and varied number of refugee crises in recent decades. Now that some of the largest crises have been resolved, it is time to adjust strategies and build on past positive experience, capturing the best practices developed in the region. There is a need to develop relationships between UNHCR and regional NGOs that will serve both well for a long time to come, and not just during emergencies.

1. The Current State of UNHCR-NGO Collaboration on Protection

The need for building collaborative relationships in support of refugee protection is more pressing than ever before. Many States are pulling back from defending refugee protection and the quality of asylum is deteriorating. Terms like “expulsion,” “interdiction,” “exploitation” and “detention” are central to many asylum debates; all too often, they describe current practice. The distortion of previously established legal concepts, such as “internal flight alternatives,” “manifestly unfounded” and “safe third country” is reflected in the changed refugee policies and laws of many countries, including those which helped create the 1951 Refugee Convention. To combat the deterioration of refugee protection, UNHCR is anxious to build coalitions of like-minded partners. In particular, there is a role to play for human rights and humanitarian assistance NGOs already working on refugee matters. The role is not limited to advocacy and mobilising public opinion. Rather, it can include monitoring, reporting, information sharing and, where appropriate, intervening with governments.

The following factors were seen by NGO participants to currently hinder UNHCR-NGO collaboration on protection:

• Uncertainty on the part of NGOs as to who, in a given situation, should lead the effort to protest refugee rights violations. Should it be UNHCR, NGOs, even IOM (in the case of new medical policies in one country) or others?
• Lack of clarity as to how, specifically, NGOs can help strengthen refugee protection.
• Differences in the institutional cultures of UNHCR and NGOs which sometimes interfere with relationships.
• The tendency, as perceived by NGOs, for UNHCR offices frequently to seek advice from Headquarters rather than to take immediate action in response to refugee protection problems occurring locally.
• Sudden shifts of UNHCR resources to tackle new emergencies in other parts of the world – this sometimes has a negative impact on relationships with NGOs working in non-emergency countries.
• The unwillingness, in some situations, of UNHCR to join or support NGOs which have undertaken advocacy against, or have mounted legal challenges to, government practice that violates international law, ostensibly because it is more concerned with maintaining its assistance programs.
• UNHCR’s own limited status within certain countries — this compromises its capacity to ensure that refugee protection standards are met and causes great frustration both on the part of UNHCR staff and concerned NGOs.

Discussion continued on how to strengthen UNHCR-NGO collaboration on protection

• In response to the sense that NGOs may not know exactly how best to help, UNHCR can specify distinct projects which need work, such as drafting a model national refugee law, and invite NGOs to participate.
• To work well together and bridge cultural gaps, we need to form a more thorough understanding of each other. This can be achieved by working on joint projects as well as meeting together regularly.
• Good collaboration is the product of trusting relationships. There is a need to acknowledge that NGOs and UNHCR operate in different ways, to respect those differences and to take advantage of them so as to complement each other better.

2. Advocacy and Promotion of Protection Principles

There was general consensus that NGOs should get much more involved in advocacy and the promotion of refugee protection principles. A prominent theme during the discussion was the need for more training and a better understanding of what issues need advocacy as well as how to engage in useful advocacy. Although some participants questioned the value of pursing an accessions campaign, a majority appeared to support such a campaign, in the region. Specific observations included:

• NGOs in the Asia and Pacific region should create a good information network to keep each other informed on newly developing regional issues, as well as to tap into networks that exist in other parts of the world. Effective advocacy requires an up-to-date understanding of current issues and challenges, and knowing how different countries are coping with similar protection challenges.
• NGOs would also like specific information on historic events and agreements, such as the Oslo Declaration. What is happening with the recommendations made there?
• NGOs need and want more training, both on basic refugee protection principles as well as techniques for effective advocacy.
• To improve understanding of advocacy issues and organisational mandates, staff internships and exchanges would be useful and very welcome.
• It is difficult for some NGOs, particularly those dealing with assistance work, to engage in advocacy that is politically sensitive. They would prefer UNHCR to take the lead.
• It is important to use the media more creatively. Instead of just showing “problem” situations, the media should be encouraged to offer more balanced, factual accounts of refugees’ experiences and backgrounds. This would help to educate the general population and elicit their sympathy and support for the refugee cause.
• When the media portray refugee issues inaccurately or negatively, both NGOs and UNHCR must take steps to counter misunderstandings (this requires improved communications between UNHCR and NGOs.)
• NGOs from the Asia and Pacific region ought to play a greater role in the pre-EXCOM and EXCOM sessions, by working with other participating NGOs. This would present the NGOs with valuable opportunities to raise advocacy issues directly with their own governments in an international setting.
• It was recognised that advocacy efforts must target national Bar Associations and Legal Aid Societies, as well as grass-roots legal organisations. To be effective, advocacy should start with basic education and information-sharing.
• The possibility of forming a strategy to address regional policy-making bodies (such as ASEAN) was raised. To date, most advocacy has been targeted at individual countries. It was noted that refugee problems are closely linked with matters of national security and sovereignty. This approach will not be easy.
• It is essential to involve refugee communities themselves in advocacy. NGOs are well-positioned to help them raise concerns publicly, until they are strong enough to act on their own.

3. Dealing with Specific Protection Situations

Once again, the discussion revolved around issues of training and information-sharing. NGO participants voiced a desire to learn more about how to respond to specific protection situations and invited UNHCR’s guidance. Additionally, it was observed that today’s human rights violations are often tomorrow’s refugee crises. For this reason, creating a good information-exchange within the region is essential. Participants’ comments follow:

• Strong support was expressed for creating an information network where “early warnings” can be raised and appropriate responses considered.
• Trust is an important component of working relationships. This is especially true where various agencies have agreed in principle to share sensitive information with one another. It was observed that sharing will improve as trust grows. Again, a concerted effort must be made to communicate with one another regularly.
• The question “What is protection?” was asked by many participants. It was agreed that we must develop a common understanding of this concept in order to build collaborative partnerships.
• To improve NGOs’ (and government officials’) understanding of basic refugee protection principles and to improve their capacity to respond appropriately, a number of participants stressed the need to translate existing documents into local languages. Specifically, it would be valuable to translate Protecting Refugees: A Field Guide for NGOs into many languages. It was noted that linguists and academics might volunteer to do this, if so requested by NGOs and UNHCR.
• UNHCR’s “Emergency Management Training” initiative was particularly appreciated.
• When trying to solve specific refugee protection problems, NGOs and UNHCR must consider resource issues and work with governments to find solutions that are reasonable and cost-effective.
• Flexibility is important when defining responses, and NGOs would appreciate receiving guidance from UNHCR regarding acceptable standards. For example, specific reference was made to the practice of offering “Temporary Protection.” When is it acceptable and when is it inappropriate?
• When UNHCR is denied access to particular areas where violations are occurring, NGOs may be able to offer services or assist with advocacy. For maximum effectiveness, plans of action should be discussed together at the country level.
• NGOs, in their civil society role, can help UNHCR to fight against refugee rights violations using the national laws that do exist, and to initiate dialogue where the laws do not exist or where the government does not fully accept UNHCR’s protection mandate.
• UNHCR would welcome NGOs’ assistance with specific refugee-related problems, e.g., the return of those found not to be in need of international protection. Left unresolved, such problems threaten the asylum regime in many countries. Perhaps NGOs could persuade their governments to admit “returned” citizens.
• UNHCR described its ongoing effort to form alliances with socially responsible corporations, which have enormous influence in many countries and can work in partnership with UNHCR to reduce refugee protection problems. UNHCR welcomes NGO involvement and advice in this endeavour.

4. Protection in Field Operations

There is widespread incidence of violence in the field, directed against both refugees and aid workers. The challenge in this environment is finding a way to infuse protection concepts into traditional assistance programs. To do this, a fundamental shift in attitudes must take place, as NGOs (and UNHCR) realise that NGOs have a role and a responsibility for providing refugee protection, to the extent possible and in full coordination with UNHCR. Participants shared the following suggestions on how to achieve this objective, in spite of the very real constraints existing today:

• Staff training is essential, including on the relevant international legal instruments, and should be based on easily accessible handbooks, such as Protecting Refugees: A Field Guide for NGOs. On a practical level, NGOs should factor staff training costs into their project budgets.
• NGOs should appoint “Protection Focal Points” among their staff, and call for and participate in regularly scheduled protection meetings with the UNHCR Protection Officer to discuss threats to refugee rights and possible solutions. Regular interaction will improve the collaborative nature of the relationship. Can UNHCR ensure that their Protection Officers will do this?
• Activities designed to promote refugee protection should be described in each project proposal together with corresponding objectives and indicators.
• In selecting an NGO as implementing partner UNHCR should give greater weight to the NGO’s capacity to provide and promote refugee protection in given field situations.
• It would be useful to develop a standard Protection Reporting Format for use in field operations. NGOs and UNHCR should endeavour to create this together.
• All NGOs and UN agencies working on behalf of refugees must take measures to ensure that their staff conduct themselves in an honest, professional manner. Refugees are very vulnerable and must not be subject to intimidation or coercive practices. This concern applies in every country.
• UNHCR is only as strong as it is allowed to be by its member States. NGOs can help UNHCR by lobbying governments for adequate assistance and support for UNHCR, particularly during emergencies.
• Humanitarian assistance NGOs should try to forge alliances with human rights NGOs so that each can draw upon the strengths of the other.
• Participants generally acknowledged that protection work is hard and can be very unpopular with governments. But a government’s displeasure with UNHCR or NGOs working to defend the rights of refugees must not negatively influence our collective duty to work on behalf of the rights of refugees.

5. Next Steps in Developing a Protection Partnership

While specific recommendations for future action were not formulated, broad plans were outlined with the assistance of the Moderator (see Summary). There was consensus on the following points:

• there is an urgent need to form an information network connecting NGOs working in the Asia and Pacific region;
• protection training is essential and much needed;
• it is appropriate and necessary for NGOs to play an active role in advocacy and the promotion of refugee law;
• NGOs need improved access to UNHCR Protection Officers and are prepared to meet with them on a regular basis.

Participants suggested that the group select several “NGO Focal Points” to help take the Asia and Pacific Reach Out process forward. Although time constraints did not permit this selection process to take place, two PARinAC representatives, Mr. Jeevan Thiagarajah and Mr. Steven Muncy did agree that they or the NGOs they represent will assume some responsibility for charting ways to move the process forward. To help them do this, UNHCR noted it has resources to hire a consultant for up to three months to assist the NGOs to secure additional resources to build capacity. UNHCR also urged the group to look to the central UNHCR-NGO Reach Out Steering Committee for advice and assistance, particularly with regard to establishing a network and training initiatives.

Annex 1
Background Information Relating to the Reach Out Process

The international refugee protection regime is facing fundamental and far-reaching challenges at a time when there is a global increase in population movements. Basic changes in the international environment (the retreat from internationalism; the intractability of socio-economic problems; pervasive concerns about illegal migration and criminal aliens, among others) coupled with the increasing tendency of states to take unilateral action in refugee matters — often in open disregard of agreed treaty obligations — have given these challenges a new dimension and resulted in a confluence of factors which threatens the foundations of this regime.

In this period, most notably in the Great Lakes Region of Central Africa but also elsewhere, governments, including Member States of UNHCR’s Executive Committee (EXCOM), have systematically and intentionally violated the most basic principles of refugee protection with apparent impunity. Concurrently, for the first time, key donor States are not giving consistent and active support to UNHCR’s protection mandate — a development not unlinked to the fact that a number of these States have themselves taken, or are taking, measures in their own jurisdictions which also do not comply with accepted refugee protection principles, and which are being mirrored in other regions.

In response to this situation, towards the end of 1997, UNHCR launched its “Reach Out” initiative — a project aimed at reinvigorating support for the international refugee protection system and for UNHCR’s protection mandate in particular. It envisaged engaging both states and non-state actors in a series of dialogues on the nature and dimensions of the current challenges; on where the main problems lie; what UNHCR should (or could) do differently; and what states and organisations might do together with UNHCR to ensure improved and sustained support for refugee protection principles.

The first phase of this project — involving in-depth bilateral consultations with key EXCOM member States from each region — began in January 1998 and concluded in November 1999. The second phase involves a year-long programme of structured dialogues between UNHCR and its NGO partners. NGOs have an increasingly crucial role to play in supporting the international protection system, particularly through advocacy at the national and regional, as well as international, levels. Many of them are as concerned as UNHCR with recent developments, and have remained among the few strong and consistent voices in support of protection in this difficult period. Through these planned exchanges UNHCR and participating NGOs will endeavour to elaborate a common protection agenda, including proposals for concrete and operationally-focused partnerships in protection advocacy that could be taken forward in each region.

To launch this second phase, UNHCR invited leading international humanitarian and human rights NGOs for an initial, round-table discussion on the broad aims of the NGO Reach Out process. The Chief Executive Officers of thirty NGOs, or their designated alternates, participated in this meeting, which was held from 11 to 12 March 1999 at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. Representatives of governments and other donors supporting the Reach Out project, other concerned UN organisations, and umbrella organisations of NGOs also attended in an observer capacity.

The consultations with NGOs from the Asia and Pacific Region, held in Bangkok, were the first of four such regional meetings envisioned in the NGO Reach Out process. The Bangkok meeting will be followed by similar meetings for Africa, Latin America and the South West and Central Asia, North Africa and Middle East Regions — with the latter two to be held in conjunction with PARinAC regional meetings. In the course of 2000 the group which met in New York in March 1999 will be reconvened, most probably in Geneva, to assess the progress of the whole exercise and decide on further steps, including for the closer integration of the NGO Reach Out and PARinAC processes.

Annex 2
Consultations Between UNHCR and Humanitarian and Human Rights NGOs in the Asia and Pacific Region on Strengthening Collaboration in Support of the International Refugee Protection System

Novotel Hotel, Bangkok
November 11-12, 1999

List of Participants and Observers

Participants

Australia

Ms Margaret Piper
Executive Director
Refugee Council of Australia
P.O. Box 946, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia
Tel: (61-2) 9660-5300
Fax: (61-2) 9660-5211
E-mail: rcoa@cia.com.au

Sister Loreto Conroy
Manager
National Council of Churches in Australia
Private Bag 199, QV13, Sydney 1230, NSW, Australia
Tel: (61-2) 9299-2215
Fax: (61-2) 9262-4514
E-mail: lconroy@ncca.org.au

Bangladesh

Dr. Faustina Pereira
Advocate Supreme Court of Bangladesh ; Coordinator of Advocacy
Ain-O-Salish Kendra (ASK)
26/3 Purana Paltan Line,
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Tel: (880-2) 831-5851
Fax: (880-2) 831-8561
E-mail: ask@citechco.net

Mr. Md. Nur Khan
Director
ODHIKAR
3/6, Segun Bagicha,
Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh
Tel: (88-02) 956-0173, (Residence: 88-02-861-4093)
Fax: (88-02) 912-2226 (Attn: ODHIKAR)
E-mail: odhikar@bangla.net

Cambodia

Mr. Chhoeun Sokha
Director
Legal Aid of Cambodia
No. 43, Street No. 306, P.O. Box 1197, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tel: (855-23) 215-274, 360-708
Fax: (855-23) 212-206
E-mail: lac@bigpond.com.kh

Mr. Thun Saray
Executive Director
Human Rights and Development Association in Cambodia
No. 1, Street No. 158,
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tel: (855-23) 218-653
Fax: (855-23) 217-229
E-mail: adhoc@forum.org.kh

Hong Kong

Ms Brenda Ku
Supervisor
Caritas-Hong Kong
2 Caine Road, Caritas
House, Room 147, Hong Kong
Tel: (2) 843-4684
Fax: (2) 521-5720
E-mail: carioadop@hknet.com

India

Ms Sudha Ramalingam
President
People’s Union for Civil Liberties-Tamil Nadu and Pondichery
32 Kachaleeswarar Agraharam Street, Off Armenian Street, Chennai-600094, India
Tel: (91-44) 524-5412, 523-3639
Fax: (91-44) 524-5412
E-mail: sudharam@xlweb.com

Mr. Tapan K. Bose
Secretary-General
South Asia Forum for Human Rights
GPO Box 12855, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel : (977-1) 541-026
Fax : (977-1) 527-852
E-mail : south@safhr.wlink.com.np

Father C. Amal Raj
Regional Director
Jesuit Refugee Service-South Asia
24 Benson Road,
Bangalore, India 560046
Tel: (91-80) 555-5189, 554-4742
Fax: (91-80) 556-1700
E-mail: camalr@giasbg01.vsnl.net.in

Indonesia

Mr. Jusuf Talib
Co-Chair
Indonesian Red Cross Society
Pajaten Mas III/F-2,
Jakarta, Indonesia
Tel: (21) 780-0432, 799-2325
Fax: (21) 799-5188 (Office)
(21) 780-0432 (Residence)
E-mail: N/A

Ms Atik Krustiyati
SH.Ms (Lawer)
Centre for Human Rights Studies
Jl. Ngagel Jaya Selatan
169, Surabaya, Indonesia
Tel: (62-31) 566-6269
Fax: (62-31) 566-6269
E-mail: N/A

Mr. Soni Qodri
Director of LBH Bali (The Bali Legal Aid Institute)
Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) [Bali Office]
Jakarta Office: Jalan Diponegoro 74,
Jakarta-Pusat, Indonesia
Bali Office: Jalan Kapten.Tjok.Agung Tresna 49,
Denpasar-Bali, Indonesia
Tel: Jakarta Office: (62-21) 314-5518
Bali Office: (62-361) 242-447
Fax: Jakarta Office: (62-21) 330-140
Bali Office: (62-361) 242-447
E-mail: lbhbali@indo.net.id
ylbhi@indo.net.id

Ms Immaculata M. Mardani
Deputy Director
Caritas-Indonesia
Jl. Cut Meutia 10,
Teromolpos 3044, Jakarta 10002, Indonesia
Tel: (62-21) 314-2345, 390-7015, 3190-7016
Fax: (62-21) 390-1480
E-mail: carindo@rad.net.id
Personal e-mail: imma@cbn.net.id

Japan

Mr. Kazumi Suzuki
Director
Refugee Assistance Headquarters Japan
5-1-27 Minami-Azabu, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 106-0047
Tel: (03) 3449-7011
Fax: (03) 3449-7016
E-mail: N/A

Malaysia

Ms Elizabeth Wong
Coordinator
Suaram (Suara Rakyat Malaysia)
383, Jalan 5/59, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: (60-3) 794-3525
Fax: (60-3) 794-3526
E-mail: suaram@geocities.com

Nepal

Mr. Dev Ratna Dhakhwa
Secretary-General
Nepal Red Cross Society
Redcross Marg, Kalimati,
Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: (977-1) 270-761, 272-761
Fax: (977-1) 271-915
E-mail: nrcs@kalimali.mos.com.np

New Zealand

Dr. N. Rasalingam QSM
President
Refugee Council of New Zealand
25, Houghton Street,
Meadow bank, Auckland, New Zealand
Tel: (64-9) 528-8257
Fax: (64-9) 528-8257
E-mail: n/a

Philippines

Mr. Steven Muncy
Executive Director
Community and Family Services International (CFSI)
MCC-PO Box 2733, Makati,
Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel: (632) 551-1977
Fax: (632) 551-2225
E-mail: smuncy@mozcom.com

Ms Lee Cath
Intern
Community and Family Services International
c/o CFSI, MCC PO Box 2733, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel: (632) 510-1041
Fax: N/A
E-mail: kath@mozcom.com

Father Paulo H. Prigol
Executive Secretary
Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP/ECMI)
470 Gen. Luna Street,
1009 Intramuros, Philippines
Tel: (63-2) 527-4135
Fax: (63-2) 527-9568
E-mail: ecmi@info.com.ph

Sri Lanka

Mr. Jeevan Thiagarajah
Chairman of Board of Management
Institute of Human Rights
10, Kynsey Terrace,
Colombo 8, Sri Lanka
Tel: (94-74) 610-943-4
Fax: (94-74) 610-943-4
E-mail: jeevant@sri.lanka.net

Republic of Korea

Ms Kyung-Joo Chang
International Coordinator
MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society
5F Shinjung Building, 1555-3 Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu,
Seoul, Korea 137-070
Tel: (82-2) 522-7284
Fax: (82-2) 522-7285
E-mail: m321@choltian.net

Thailand

Ms Pornsuk Koetsawang
Coordinator
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development
109 Suthisarnwinichai Road, Samsennok, Huay Kwang, Bangkok 10320, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 276-9846-7
Fax: (66-2) 693-4939
E-mail: chalida@mozart.inet.co.th

Dr. Pichit Siriwan
Medical Officer
Thai Red Cross Society
Relief and Public Health Division, Thai Red Cross Society,
1873 Rama IV Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 251-7853
Fax: (66-2) 252-7976
E-mail: relief@redcross.or.th

Rev. Fr. Pibul Visitnondachai
Executive Director
Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees (COERR)
122-122/1 Soi Naksuwan,
Nonsi Road, Chongnonsi,
Yannawa, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 681-5301-5
Fax: (66-2) 681-5306
E-mail: coerr@hotmail.com

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Ms Erika Feller
Director, Department of International Protection
Mr. Francois Fouinat
Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific
Mr. Tahir Ali
Special Adviser
Office of the Director, Department of International Protection
E-mail: ali@unhcr.ch

Mr. Jahanshah Assadi
Regional Representative for Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam
UNHCR Headquarters,
Geneva, Switzerland
Case Postale, 2500,
CH-1211, Geneve 2 Depot, Switzerland
Tel: (41-22) 739-8111
Fax: (41-22) 739-7377

UNHCR Regional Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam
3rd Floor, United Nations Building,
Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200
P.O. Box 2-121,
Rajdamnern, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 288-1299
Fax: (66-2) 280-0555

Observers

Mr. Munin Paniswasdi
Counsellor
Social Division, International Organizations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Sri Ayudhya Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 643-5066
Fax: (66-2) 643-5064
E-mail: muninp@mfa.go.th

Ms Kruemas Ponprateep
Assistant Operations Director
Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees (COERR)
122-122/1 Soi Naksuwan,
Nonsi Road, Chongnonsi, Yannawa, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 681-5301-5
Fax: (66-2) 681-5306
E-mail: coerr@hotmail.com

Mr. Chris Dodd
c/o Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees (COERR)
Bangkok
Mr. Shin Ohara
Director
Japan Association for Refugees
Villa Moderuna, B207, 1-3-18, Shibuya Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0002, Japan
Tel: (81-3) 3407-5578
Fax: (81-3) 3407-5578
E-mail: jar@kr.rim.or.jp

Mr. Michael Alexander
Legal Advisor
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
19 Soi 33, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 260-2870-1
Fax: (66-2) 258-5653
E-mail: ircbkk@mozart.inet.co.th

Mr. Ittiporn Boonpracong
APC Co-ordinator
3^rd Fl., United Nations Building, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 288-1468
Fax: (66-2) 280-0555
E-mail: boonprac@unhcr.ch

Mr. Patrick Mahassen
International Co-ordinator
International Committee of the Red Cross
20 Sukhumvit Road, Soi 4, Soi Nana Tai,
Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 251-0424, 251-0429, 251-5245, 251-2947, 252-6826
Fax: (66-2) 253-5428
E-mail: bangkok.ban@icrc.org

Ms Ida Bucher
Delegate
International Committee of the Red Cross
(Address and other details same as above)

Ms Marilou Suplido
Regional Liaison Officer – South Asia
International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC)
Room 212, Pius XII Catholic Centre, U.N. Avenue, Manila, Philippines
Tel: (621) 524-2855
Fax: (621) 524-2842
E-mail: icmc@i-next.net

Ms Lotte Kejser
Programme Officer
International Organisation for Migration (IOM)
5th Floor, Kasemkij Building, 120 Silom Road,
Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 235-3538-9, 233-9395
Fax: (66-2) 236-7128
E-mail: bangkok@iom.int

Ms Mirkka Henttonan
Assistant Programme Officer
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
(Address, phone and fax numbers same as above)
E-mail: mirkka@iom.int

Ms Karen Tumlin
Luce Scholar
(Independent funded by a fellowship from the U.S.)
49/17 Soi Langsuan, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel : (66-2) 251-5597
Fax : N/A
E-mail: karentumlin@hotmail.com

Father Stephen Curtin SJ
Regional Director
Jesuit Refugee Service
24/1 Soi Aree 4, Phaholyothin 7, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 279-1817
Fax: (66-2) 271-3632
E-mail: jrsdir@ksc.th.com

Ms Mona Laczo
Policy & Information Officer
Jesuit Refugee Service
(Address, phone and fax numbers same as above)
E-mail: mona.laczo@jesref.org

Ms Jane Williamson
Legal Officer
Jesuit Refugee Service – Cambodia
P.O. Box 880, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tel: (885-23) 880-139
Fax: (885-23) 880-140
E-mail: jrscam@forum.org.kh

Mr. Jack Dunford
Chairperson of Coordination Committee for Displaced Persons in Thailand (CCSDPT)
Director, Burmese Border Consortium
Address: 12/5 Convent Road,
Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 238-2568
Fax: (66-2) 266-5376
E-mail: dunford@mozart.inct.co.th

Moderator

Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn
Professor of Law
Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn
University, Phyathai Road,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 215-0981-4, 218-2065
Fax: (66-2) 215-3604, 218-2018

Rapporteurs

Ms Margaret Green
Immigration Specialist
International Rescue Committee
122 East 42^nd
Stret, New York, NY 10168-1289
Tel: (212) 551-3084
Fax: (212) 551-3000
E-mail: mgreen@intrescom.org

Mr. Robert Burrows
Deputy Director
UNBRO
3^rd Fl., United Nations Building, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue,
Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 288-1273
Fax: (66-2) 280-0555

^** See Annex 1 for background information relating to the overall Reach Out process.