At Asylum Access, our commitment to working in Mexico, Malaysia, and Thailand is deeply intentional, driven by both the scale of need and the unique opportunities for systemic change in these regions. We don’t just choose locations based on the number of refugees, but because these countries represent critical fronts in the global struggle for refugees’ human rights.
Neither Malaysia nor Thailand are signatories to the 1951 Refugee Convention, and Mexico remains one of the most dangerous migratory routes in the world. The lack of legal frameworks for refugee protection in Malaysia and Thailand, alongside Mexico’s complex migratory context, creates an urgent need for intervention.
We work where we do because refugees in these countries face heightened risks—legal limbo, exploitation, detention, and deportation—with very few avenues for justice or self-reliance. These challenges make our work urgent and essential.
Mexico: Navigating a complex migratory context
In Mexico, our presence since 2015 has been vital. While it serves as a country of emigration, transit, and increasingly, asylum, the Mexican government has struggled to create adequate protection protocols for those on the move. The result is a population exposed to significant risks—detention, abuse by criminal groups, and uncertainty about their legal status. U.S. policies like “Remain in Mexico” and “Title 42” have exacerbated this crisis, leaving thousands stranded in a system that is completely unprepared to handle their needs.
Many displaced individuals who arrive in Mexico are unaware of their right to seek refugee status, and the complex bureaucratic asylum process, worsened by the existence of migration detention centers, discourages them from pursuing it. Our legal assistance programs across 6 local offices aim to address this knowledge gap and provide support in navigating the asylum system to ensure that forcibly displaced individuals know their rights and have the tools to access them. Additionally, through government capacity building and partnerships with both private and civil society organizations, we help refugees rebuild their lives and integrate into Mexican society.
Mexico’s system has been historically unprepared to manage the increasing number of migrant children, many of whom arrive unaccompanied. Our strong advocacy efforts through several working groups, the production of reports, and our participation in international forums have led to the reform of sections related to children’s issues in migration law. While implementation challenges remain, we continue to push for better protection protocols and child-friendly alternatives to detention.
Malaysia: Confronting Legal Limbo
Malaysia hosts a large population of refugees and people seeking asylum. Yet since the country has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention, refugees are in a gray legal spectrum, at risk of exploitation, arrest, and deportation.
Since 2014, Asylum Access Malaysia (AAM) has played a crucial role in filling this protection gap by advocating for refugees’ rights. Beyond addressing immediate legal needs, AAM is committed to building long-term systemic change. As the only NGO accredited by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Malaysia as an official legal representative for refugees and people seeking asylum, we actively engage with government agencies, civil society, and international bodies to create a more inclusive legal framework for refugees in the country.
Our work has focused not just on direct legal services but on encouraging refugees to advocate for themselves through training and capacity-building initiatives.
Our Employment Disputes Program, for example, has been a breakthrough in providing legal aid for refugees facing exploitation. Before this, refugees in Malaysia had no way to seek justice when they were underpaid, abused, or had wages withheld. Now, thanks to our persistent advocacy, refugees can access labor courts and have successfully won cases, setting important legal precedents in the region.
Thailand: Advocacy in a State of Limbo
Thailand’s refugee situation is marked by complexity and confusion. Despite its long history of hosting refugees, the country has still not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention. Over 7,000 urban refugees live without official recognition, making them even more prone to arrest, exploitation, and deportation. Thailand’s legal framework remains incomplete, with recent developments such as the National Screening Mechanism (NSM) offering only partial protection.
Our presence in Thailand is critical because of the legal and humanitarian gaps refugees face. Asylum Access Thailand (AAT), established in 2007, provides direct legal services to help refugees navigate the complex asylum process managed by the UNHCR and the NSM. In a context where refugee recognition is limited, we prioritize strategic interventions to prevent deportations and secure bail for refugees, actions that directly improve their safety and set important precedents for refugee protection in the region.
In addition to legal support in Bangkok and Mae Sot, AAT emphasizes community empowerment. Programs like the Refugee Empowerment Group (REG) and Psychological First Aid (PFA) foster resilience and self-reliance among refugees, equipping them with the tools to advocate for their rights. Our advocacy extends beyond direct services; we work closely with other NGOs, governmental agencies and networks, such as the Myanmar Response Network, to influence national policies and ensure that refugees are treated with dignity and respect.
Global Impact Through Partnerships
While our work is deeply rooted and locally-led in these specific countries and we believe we must address the lack of protection in the domestic and national landscapes where forcibly displaced people live, we also have a global approach for systemic changes in our sector.
Through strategic engagement with institutions of power such as UNHCR and the World Bank, and value-driven partnerships with like-minded international NGOs, we ensure that forcibly displaced people are given space, or are at least fairly represented, to meaningfully participate in regional and international policy decisions that affect them. Through our global advocacy work, we are not only shaping conversations around topics like localized protection, equitable partnerships, and meaningful refugee participation but also driving policy changes that create tangible benefits for forcibly displaced communities.
A key success in this area has been our work with the Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative (RRLI), which has directed over $11.9 million to refugee-led organizations (RLOs) across Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Lebanon, and Uganda, and unlocked a further $5.3 million in investment in RLOs from other funders. This direct and flexible funding not only supports the important work of our partners, but results in inclusive, refugee-led, and sustainable solutions.
Our Commitment to Lasting Change
At Asylum Access we have stepped away from the culture of increasing our footprints by setting up new national offices and have decided to focus on our impact instead. Our national organizations work independently in their countries as they represent the frontline in the fight for refugees’ human rights. In Malaysia, Mexico, and Thailand, we see the potential for systemic change, but also the urgent need to address gaps in protection.
By working with local and international partners, we ensure that refugee voices are heard and that they are active participants in shaping policies and programs that affect their lives. Our work is about more than just providing services; it’s about transforming systems to create a future where refugees are not just surviving but thriving, with full access to their rights and the ability to rebuild their lives with dignity and autonomy.