MMN conducted a national-level training on migration from 29 August to 2 September, entitled Myanmar National Training on Responses to Labour Migration. The training was organised in collaboration with 88 Generation Peace and Open Society. Ms. Liz Hilton from EMPOWER Foundation and Ms. Ei Ei Chaw from Foundation for Education and Development (FED) were the main trainers and ensured active participation of participants. There were altogether 25 trainees, representing 18 CSOs in Myanmar. 

Over the course of the week, the trainers facilitated participatory activities to expand participants’ understanding of different types of movement and migration trends in the region, as well as their ability to critically analyse national and regional migration policies, and the role of embassies, labour attachés, and other stakeholders. To learn more, please refer to the website report of the training.

The objective of the Thailand Country Visit was for participants to gain a better understanding of cross-border labour migration processes and the support available to migrants in destination countries. During the visit, delegates had the opportunity to engage in insightful discussions with organisations working to support the rights of migrants in Thailand, such as Workers Solidarity Association (WSA), and with migrant communities themselves. MMN member organisations, namely MAP Foundation, Shan Women’s Action Network, and EMPOWER Foundation, hosted the participants and shared their perspectives on the situation of migrants living in Thailand as well as their experience with and strategies on working with migrant labour issues as members of civil society organisations.

To learn more, please refer to the website report and proceedings of the visit.

The objective of the country visit to Cambodia was for CSOs in Myanmar to gain a better understanding of Cambodia’s policies and practices to facilitate safe migration and prevent trafficking, and strategies developed by CSOs to protect the rights of migrants and migrant returnees. During this visit, participants met with various NGOs including the CWCC, Civil Volunteer Group, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), Krousar Thmey, and Damnok Toek, and exchanged strategies for countries of origin. Participants also had the opportunity to meet with representatives from IOM as well as the Chairperson of Provincial Committee for Counter Trafficking (PCCT) to learn about the existing government structures to promote safe migration and fight human trafficking. To learn more, please refer to the website report of the visit.

In December, MMN invited participants of the Myanmar National Training and subsequent country visits to an assessment meeting in Yangon. Overall, participants felt the training helped improve knowledge on labour migration purposes, channels, and policies in the GMS and improved the development of their respective organisations’ programmes concerning labour migration. Country visits also helped participants gain first-hand knowledge of the reality of migration through direct engagement with migrants.