Asean Rights Body Warns on Forced Migration Policy
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights says the bloc's non-interference principle hampers collective action on refugees.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Immigration
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The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) said the bloc's non-interference policy has left member states largely unwilling to address forced migration collectively from a human rights perspective. Most Asean states are not signatories to the 1951 Refugee Convention, leaving refugee protection without a binding legal framework.
Why it matters
The statement highlights a gap between Southeast Asia's regional commitments and the protections available to displaced people. Malaysia, which hosts the largest number of refugees and asylum seekers in the region, is not a signatory to the Refugee Convention, underscoring the stakes.
UNHCR data show Malaysia hosted the largest refugee and asylum-seeker population in the region in 2025, with 90% of registered refugees from Myanmar. The figures do not indicate how many of those refugees will be resettled or when.
The players
ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)
AICHR is the regional human rights body of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, tasked with promoting and protecting human rights across member states.
Malaysia's Home Ministry
Malaysia's home ministry oversees immigration and refugee policy, including the DPP registration framework that allows certain refugees to work.
The details
AICHR said Asean's 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, which sets out the non-interference principle, has discouraged collective action on migration. Malaysia's refugee registration (DPP) document allows refugees who were in the country before January 1, 2023 to access select employment, and the home ministry defended the arrangement, saying work rights would improve refugees' skills and credentials while reducing new intakes of migrant workers.
Timeline
- 1951: The Refugee Convention is adopted; most Asean states have not signed it.
- 1976: The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia is signed, establishing the non-interference principle.
- January 1, 2023: Cutoff date for refugees eligible under Malaysia's DPP work provision.
- 2023: A study on migration management for vulnerable groups in Asean is published.
- 2025: Malaysia hosts the largest number of refugees and asylum seekers in the region.
Big Picture
Most Asean states have never signed the 1951 Refugee Convention, the foundational treaty on refugee protection. AICHR's warning shows the regional bloc's non-interference principle still shapes how member states handle forced migration.
Refugees in Malaysia who were registered before January 1, 2023 may access select employment under the DPP document, affecting their ability to earn income and build skills. Regional migrants and employers may see shifts in the labor supply as those refugees enter the workforce.
The takeaway
Regional refugee policy depends on whether governments are willing to coordinate beyond the non-interference principle. Watch for how Malaysia's DPP framework and planned resettlement arrangements develop in the coming years.
Further reading
Explore more on Immigration policy and refugee protection across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Free Malaysia Today.
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