Over 600 Non Government Organisations in the Asia Pacific Region have signed a joint statement, applauding the governments of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand to provide temporary shelter and protection to refugees and migrants rescued at sea as a step in the right direction.
Many of these organisations are Members of the IDC.
The statement was released in the lead up to the Intergovernmental Special Meeting on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean, where over 17 governments attended the meeting, which took place in Bangkok on May 29.
Led by the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network, the statement urged all authorities involved in border and immigration management to treat all persons with dignity and respect and in accordance with their obligations under human rights law.
It also called for practical protection safeguards to be put in place and the differentiated protection requirements of people in this mixed population movement be taken into consideration.
Read the full statement.