Burmese Refugees in Malaysia fight Gender Based Violence through community-based programming

MALAYSIA, 27 March 2014 (ICMC) – “A lot of women suffer from Gender Based Violence (GBV), but they don’t know how to ask for help. People don’t understand that survivors should be helped instead of blamed. We must change what we can now, only then will women gain equality and respect,” said Iang Chin Par, a Burmese refugee living in Malaysia and a member of the ICMC Refugee Women’s Protection Corps (RWPC).

The RWPC was formed by ICMC more than four years ago and has since served as the foundation of ICMC work and community-based approach to prevent and respond to GBV amongst Burmese refugees in Malaysia. With generous financial support from the US State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM), ICMC staff mentors, supervises and coordinates a group of around twenty RWPC volunteers from the Burmese refugee community to better address harmful gender inequalities.Read more<

Combating gender-based violence (GBV) among urban refugees in Malaysia

Gender Based Violence (GBV) takes many forms, including physical, verbal, and sexual abuse as well as deprivation techniques (financial, legal, psychological) designed to control and disempower the victims. The perpetrators can be spouses, parents, siblings, and members of the refugee community, employers, or authority figures, such as police or soldiers.Read more<

From migration to trafficking: A slippery slope

KUALA LUMPUR, 16 February 2011—Gathered together with more than 50 counter trafficking experts from across South East Asia, ICMC U.S. Liaison Officer Jane Bloom presented workshop participants with an analysis of the multiple facets for migration and trafficking and the church's collective role in preventing trafficking, and in protecting those most likely to become victims.Read more<

Fighting trafficking a challenge in Malaysia

PENANG, 20 September 2010 (UCAN<)—Malaysia is becoming a key transit point as well as destination for global human trafficking activities, a workshop learnt recently.Read more<

Hundreds of Indonesian workers face execution

JAKARTA, 27 August 2010—Indonesian Church spokesmen and a group of NGOs have criticized the government over its apparent lack of concern for hundreds of imprisoned migrant workers who face the death penalty in Malaysia.Read more<

Human trafficking victim 'sold' twice

KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA, 25 June 2010 (Borneo Post<)—It was the worst 16 days of Albert Joseph’s life. During that short period, he was ’sold’ twice and was forced to work on two jobs foreign to him.Believing that he was a victim of human trafficking, the 37-year-old disclosed that his determination to escape and luck had helped him to be reunited with family members back home.Read more<