JAKARTA — Migrant workers are a vital engine driving ASEAN’s economic growth. However, the protection of their rights and welfare is still too often treated as an isolated national issue rather than a shared regional responsibility requiring unified governance.
Addressing this challenge, the ASEAN Study Center at the University of Mataram (PSA UNRAM), represented by Ahmad Mubarak Munir, presented the MY ASEAN initiative during the ASEAN Study Centers National Symposium 2026, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia on Thursday (27/08).
The MY ASEAN initiative is designed to equip future ASEAN leaders with a rights-based framework and a collaborative approach to cross-border governance. The program rests on 4 core pillars:
- ASEAN Migration Academy — Specialized courses on migration governance and rights-based protection.
- ASEAN Migration Immersion Program — Comparative field studies in Lombok and Malaysia, engaging directly with governments, recruitment agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and migrant communities.
- International Student Conference — Cross-border policy dialogues and student-led academic research presentations.
- Migration Art Exhibition — Youth-led creative action and grassroots community engagement projects.
Through this multidisciplinary approach, ASEAN youth are encouraged not only to analyze policy on paper but also to understand the lived experiences of migrant communities on the ground. Engaging the next generation early is a critical step toward transforming ASEAN’s migration landscape into one that is more equitable, inclusive, and fair.