Greater Mekong/Malaysia - The United States Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) has awarded IOM USD 875,000 to allow the completion of a four-year IOM project designed to help vulnerable migrants in the Greater Mekong sub-region and Malaysia.

The USD 2.5 million project, now in its third year, focuses on the most vulnerable migrants in the two main destination countries of Thailand and Malaysia, but also includes activities in Myanmar, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam.

Following two years of capacity-building with governments, NGOs, employers and migrants, the project will now move toward institutionalization of activities, including self-help groups for victims of human trafficking, referral networks and reintegration support.

Focusing on the protection of vulnerable cross-border migrants, including unaccompanied minors, victims of trafficking and displaced people, the project will continue to identify the most vulnerable migrant groups, assess their protection needs, help to make them aware of the risks that they face, build partnerships, and develop the capacity of states.

Thailand hosts an estimated two million migrants from neighbouring countries, most of whom are in irregular situations. They often have difficulty accessing social protection and health services because they do not understand their rights and many government officials do not understand their entitlements under Thai law.

Malaysia is a destination country for migrants from Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, India, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. While significant numbers of women are trafficked into sex work or forced labour, the number of trafficked men in forced labour is also rising.

Malaysia enacted an Anti-Trafficking Law in 2007, but continues to struggle with its implementation. Shelters remain in need of additional resources; shelter personnel need more training and technical support; and members of police and judiciary need a better understanding of the issues associated with the crime.

Over the past decade, countries in the region have developed institutional frameworks, legislation, policies and procedures aimed at addressing the plight of vulnerable migrants, especially victims of trafficking and domestic workers. But the number of vulnerable migrants has not declined.

"Irregular migrants in the Greater Mekong States and Malaysia continue to be extremely vulnerable to exploitation and abuse,” says IOM’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Andrew Bruce. “IOM is working with local and state authorities to strengthen their capacity to protect vulnerable migrants and develop sound migration policies. At the same time we are trying to inform migrants about the risks and provide them with the support that they need."

For more information, please contact  

Claudia Natali
IOM Bangkok
Email: cnatali@iom.int