Over the years, the number of migrant workers and refugees had been increasing. While many of them settled comfortably, starting life anew, there were also a number of them who ran into problems, when they were abused, marginalized and their basic human rights infringed on. Who do they turned to? Mostly, to NGOs or individuals who have dedicated their time to help migrants and refugees.
In the Northern region of Peninsular Malaysia, there are a number of NGOs that address the problems migrants and refugees faced. Sensing that there is a need for a network that bring together all these NGOs and individuals who are involved in migrants and refugees works, the Northern Migration and Refugee Network was launched in Nov. 2007. (It is better known by its Bahasa acronym – JUMP – Jaringan Utara Migrasi dan Pelarian).
JUMP was formed by a combination of NGOs and individuals to address the lack of representation, services, advocacy and resources available to migrants and refugees. Beside that, JUMP also acted as a link to bring together NGOs and individuals already engaged in migrant and refugee works, to better coordinate, build capacity and advocate for the interests of migrants and refugees.
The four main objectives of JUMP are:
* Service. To coordinate and/or make available to migrant and refugee communities, legal, welfare and other support services via its network.
* Training. To coordinate and/or organize relevant training programmes for service providers and the migrant/refugee communities.
* Advocacy. To initiate/participate in advocacy activities concerning the laws and policies affecting the migrant and refugee communities.
* Awareness. To create and awareness of the positive presence of the migrant and refugee communities in our country.
A JUMP planning meeting is held once every month, with representatives from NGOs and individuals. To date, the following NGOs are in JUMP: Aliran, Penang Office for Human Development, Suaram Penang, Tenagnita Penang, World Youth With A Mission, Nepali Sengati and one individual.
JUMP also works closely with UNHCR and is in contact with them for projects like registration of refugees and also organising workshop.
Many activities had been organized by JUMP ever since its formation in 2007 e.g. Refugee Day Celebration, Case Work Training, Advocacy Workshop, Dealing with Authorities.
One of the activity that brings together not only JUMP members but people from all walks of life was the Right To Redress campaign (R2R campaign), which was officially launched by the Depuity Prime Minister II on February 2009. R2R address the various needs of the different stakeholders involved in the migrants/refugees issues e.g. the authorities like immigration, police, Labour Office, Rela, employers and agents of migrant workers and the general public.
R2R approaches the issues from the viewpoint of basic rights. It asked that the basic rights of everyone, including migrants and refugees, be respected and protected, and that avenues be provided that really allow people with complaints to have those complaints fairly and impartially heard. In the case of refugees/migrants, this also means that they are allowed to stay in the country while their case is being heard, which means also they need to have a right to earn a living while this is happening.”
Bringing people together is exactly what JUMP tries to do, and this R2R campaign is an example.
To make sure that JUMP is also in contact with other groups involved in migrants/refugees issue, the members also participate in the Migration Working Group Annual Advocacy Workshop. This annual national event brings together a wide variety of individuals and organizations, not only from across Malaysia but from South East Asia too, who are involved in migration and refugees issues.
JUMP also organize training workshop to build capacity of those working with migrants/refugees. At their best effort, JUMP tries to build up documentation resources (flyers, leaflets, booklets) targeted at the authorities, the public and the migrants/refugee community
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