Kuala Lumpur, 1 May 2025 – Yayasan Cita Wadah Swadaya (YCWS) participated in the ASEAN Regional Peer workshop entitled “Journey of Nam Workshop: Navigating Safe Migration Pathways for Children in ASEAN,” held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 29 April to 1 May 2025. This practice-driven, peer-led workshop was designed exclusively for frontline practitioners working directly with refugee and migrant children across Southeast Asia. It was organized by Asia Family First and Host International Foundation Malaysia.
The workshop was held in response to growing concerns about child migration in the ASEAN region. A recent UNICEF analysis highlighted that, as of 2020, the region was home to 1.3 million international child migrants, over half of whom (approximately 700,000) were refugees, primarily displaced by conflict and violence.
During the workshop, YCWS shared its experience supporting refugees—particularly Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC) and Women and Girls at Risk (WaGAR)—through the transition from Group-Home to Supported Independent Care Arrangement (SILCA), as part of efforts to promote refugee self-reliance.
The three-day workshop proved valuable for exchanging knowledge and good practices among practitioners in the region, especially on effective interventions for children in the context of migration. Despite the adoption of the ASEAN Declaration on the Rights of Children in the Context of Migration (CCoM) and the development of the 2019 Regional Plan of Action on CCoM, implementation remains inconsistent across ASEAN Member States.
Key takeaways from the workshop include:
- Continued use of child detention remains a critical concern in the region.
- Birth registration for undocumented migrant children is still a major gap.
- Online child sexual exploitation and abuse poses increasing risks to migrant and refugee children.
Given the rich insights and experiences shared by the speakers, YCWS sees opportunities to further collaborate and expand its regional network, particularly to strengthen its efforts in supporting refugee children and women and girls at risk.
#Together for Resilience #Strengthen, Build, Empower #YCWS#ASEAN
