A) Objectives of the pledge:
For the years 2019 – 2023, the Australian Government and Australian Red Cross hereby pledge to:
– Continue to promote the safety and dignity of migrants and displaced people in the Asia-Pacific region. Continue to raise protection issues and concerns in the Asia Pacific region, such as those related to modern slavery, and the humanitarian impacts and responses of displacement exacerbated by disasters and climate change, to be considered in policy, research and strategic discussions.
– Maintain regular and constructive dialogue regarding the protection for migrants in the Asia-Pacific region.
B) Action plan:
– Work together to ensure regional strategies and policies consider humanitarian concerns related to migration and cross-border displacement.
– Work together to strengthen regional capacity to respond to humanitarian assistance and protection needs of migrants, with particular focus on vulnerable cohorts including unaccompanied minors, women and children.
– Australian Red Cross to continue providing the Australian Government with policy briefings based on trends and evidence from the Asia-Pacific Migration Network (APMN), in particular related to migration/displacement exacerbated by disasters and climate change.
C) Indicators for measuring progress:
Draft Indicators for Measuring Progress
– Develop case studies that highlight progress in providing protection and assistance to vulnerable migrants.
– Engagement in relevant Asia Pacific fora where Australian Red Cross and the Australian Government highlight best practice in protection and assistance for migrants in the region directly, or through other partnerships between Red Cross / Red Crescent National Societies and government.
– Opportunities for dialogue between the Australian Red Cross and the Australian Government on emerging trends across the region, sharing learnings from the APMN, as well as action taken to protect and assist migrants.
D) Resource implications:
– Baseline activities funded through current programming, expansion dependent on Red Cross investment directly, or in partnership.
