The proportion of people’s movement within Southeast Asia continues to rise with the UN estimating there are over ten million international migrants in the region. The causes of migration are varied and may be due to economic inequalities, environmental degradation, violent conflicts and other forms of human rights violations. Many of the richer countries in the region (where 96% of the region’s migrants are found) depend on human mobility to fill low-wage jobs in agriculture, tourism, construction, domestic help and their plight has been thrust into the spotlight by the COVID-19 pandemic. Forced, irregular and mixed migratory flows are all key trends in Southeast Asia. This chapter aims to explore the dynamics of these mixed migration flows by taking a theoretical approach to analysing migration in the region. The chapter concludes by assessing the effectiveness of existing policies and mechanisms in Southeast Asia in order to provide recommendations for a more rights-based regional approach to migration.
In Southeast Asia, the so-called phenomenon of independent child migration has received growing scholarly attention in the last decade or so. A common element of this body of literature is the questioning of the stereotypical adult-centred representation of children who migrate alone for work as passive victims of trafficking. Whilst not ignoring or downplaying that migrating children are especially vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, a number of scholars have emphasized that if we listen to these children’s voices, an alternative discourse and approach can be proposed. Refusing unidimensional interpretations of what is in fact a complex issue, this work has unveiled several conceptual shortcomings in the conflation of child trafficking and independent child migration. In so doing, increasing emphasis has been placed on the notions of children’s agency, capacities and “childhood as a social construction”. Though only at a nascent state, research has also focused on the often neglected perspective of children’s resilience.Based on a comprehensive literature review, this chapter shows that by looking at independent child migration through these lenses, adolescent migration for work can often be a constructive aspiration of young people’s search for the full realization of their rights and a better life.
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