Driving Refugee Empowerment through Digital Inclusion in South-East Asia
Mercure Hotel, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, 20-21 August 2019
If you are a refugee community organisation, human rights advocate, provider of public services, policy-maker or an academic with an interest in supporting the inclusion of refugee communities, this two-day stakeholder consultation event will be of interest to you. This event is jointly organised by Heriot Watt University and Universiti Sains Malaysia.
The Global Context
Rapid technological advances have resulted in the increasing digitalisation of services and communication of information on a global scale, and access to the internet has been recognised as a basic human right. In parallel with this, war and political conflict have led to the forced migration of people in many international contexts, including South-East Asia. This presents both opportunities and challenges for female and male Rohingya and other refugees.
The Purpose of the Event
This event aims to:
- Share the findings of a participatory research project on the use of digital media by Rohingya refugees
- Showcase innovative practical initiatives which apply digital tools to promote the empowerment of refugees
- Identify key areas for partnership working between community and other organisations for supporting refugee empowerment through digital media
- Establish a network of organisations and individuals for promoting the digital inclusivity of refugees
The Structure of the Event
The event will consist of a mix of inputs, workshop activities; opportunities for networking and panel discussions involving leading experts and specialists in the field, including on refuge rights, human computer interaction, gender equality and digital, cultural and linguistic rights.
Overview of the Programme
| Day 1 | Day 2 |
| Morning | |
| Key Panel on Refugee Rights | Panel 2: Creating more refugee inclusive spaces |
| Communication of research findings | Panel 3: Refugee Rights and ASEAN |
| Afternoon | |
| Sharing of innovative practice in using digital media | Themed workshops to identify priorities for capacity building, policy, practice and research |
| Networking Dinner | Round-up of Priorities |
Outcomes for Delegates
- Deeper understanding of the current uses of digital technology by Rohingya refugee communities
- Enhanced awareness of gaps in current service provision for Rohingya and other refugee communities
- Deeper appreciation of the role of digital tools in enabling refugees to gain access to crucial information, including about their rights and available services
- Increased understanding of how online services can be made more accessible and appropriate to promote the human rights of Rohingya and other refugee communities
- Identification of new partners to work with within Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the UK to promote refugee empowerment through digital media
- Advanced understanding of the scope for building strategic alliances within South East Asia
Further Information
Further information can be found in the promotional leaflet for the stakeholder consultation event and the finalised programme document.
For anything else please contact Dr Gina Netto, Reader/Associate Professor in Migration Studies at Heriot Watt University.