[ENG] Echoes of Hope & Advocating for Change: the Inspiring Journey of a Refugee Advocate in Bangkok

In the bustling streets of Bangkok, among the chaotic traffic and pungent smells, Tariq (pseudonym) navigates a life far removed from his roots in Pakistan. 

As a community volunteer in the Refugee-Led Network (RLN) at Asylum Access Thailand (AAT), Tariq learned not only how to overcome legal barriers faced by refugees in Thailand, but has also become a leader in a movement to empower fellow refugees through legal knowledge and advocacy. Tariq’s resilience amid this stressful and challenging situation highlights the hard road even the most enterprising refugees face.

In Pakistan, Tariq enjoyed the comforts of familiar culture, friends, and beloved local dishes like Biryani. Yet without this sphere of comfort roiled an increasingly dangerous and unstable situation. Eventually, as threats to his life mounted, he was forced to leave.  Landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok in 2022, he was filled with excitement and hope, but his new reality hit hard.

After managing to get by without difficulty for a few months, his visa expired and challenges mounted. Educational opportunities dwindled, with financial struggles prohibiting his completion of a General Educational Development (GED) at Siam University and an online British Council course. 

Job opportunities were equally grim; an accountant by training, Tariq’s search returned only meager offers at a fraction of the going rate for locals, due to his inability to prove his credentials under Thailand’s restrictive employment policies for refugees.

Fear began to creep in as the situation worsened. Strict immigration laws led him to remain indoors, wary of arrests or deportation. “Passing time was difficult without friends,” Tariq recalls, his voice tinged with the weight of those early years.

A turning point finally came, once Tariq enrolled in a language course and secured a three-month internship as a teacher assistant at the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). Then, in early 2024, he attended a presentation by AAT at his workplace. 

There, he learned about AAT and its Refugee Led Network — an initiative designed to amplify the voices and struggles of people like him. There are around 5,000 refugees from around 45 countries in Bangkok and other urban settings in Thailand. Urban refugees in Thailand lack formal recognition, facing risks of arbitrary detention and limited access to work, education, and healthcare.

Tariq applied and joined as a community volunteer. AAT, in collaboration with other organizations, equips the RLN with knowledge of their rights under international and Thai law, enabling them to advocate for change as part of a broader legal empowerment strategy. AAT’s work embodies legal empowerment: knowing the law, using it, and shaping it. 

RLN members, drawn from diverse backgrounds, collaborate to raise awareness on refugee and human rights, especially among the Thai public at universities and other places where they can engage with Thai people. By bridging gaps between refugees and organizations, RLN shapes policy advocacy, pushing for better access to education and jobs.

In November 2024, Tariq joined the PILnet Global Forum in Bangkok, together with several of his colleagues. They connected with various stakeholders to share about the experiences of refugees in Thailand and the challenges they face in accessing even basic services like opening a bank account. They also developed an advocacy video focusing on the situation of refugee mothers and children in immigration detention in Thailand, which they shared at their events and posted on AAT’s social media.

Tariq thrives in this environment, where the team harnesses their many diverse perspectives into a united front and collaborates on assignments, arguing constructively and without animus.

The RLN has given him friends and purpose; no longer isolated, he now supports his community in navigating Thailand’s National Screening Mechanism (NSM) and other protections. Through these awareness campaigns, he has helped to educate refugees on avoiding exploitation and claiming basic rights, often a challenge in a host country without full ratification of the 1951 Refugee Convention. 

He has learned empathy and problem-solving, skills he intends to carry forward with him. He envisions using his experiences in future humanitarian work, supporting volunteer efforts wherever he resettles. 

Yet, challenges persist. Tariq’s mood turns glum when asked about his hopes for the future. He hopes to leave Thailand for somewhere more stable, and he laments the lost years of progress and experience in his field of accounting. “I just want to take one step towards a stable life,” he said.

When asked about his recommendations for those seeking to help refugees in Thailand, he suggests more awareness campaigns targeting Thai locals on the predicament refugees find themselves in in this country, as well as reducing stigma and fostering integration. 

In a place where refugees often find themselves feeling invisible and unheard, AAT’s RLN proves that equipping communities with legal tools builds not just knowledge, but hope. As Tariq puts it, “Interacting with people, making a meaningful impact—that’s what drives me.”  

In Southeast Asia’s complex landscape of migration and rights, stories like Tariq’s remind us of the importance of providing community, legal empowerment, and a sense of purpose to those thrust into the uncertainty of seeking asylum.

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About Asylum Access Thailand

Asylum Access Thailand (AAT), established in 2007, supports refugees in Bangkok and across Thailand by providing legal guidance, community-based training, and connections to local services. AAT also works with Thai and regional partners to advocate for policies that promote safety, freedom of movement, and the right of refugees to rebuild their lives and contribute to society.