Forced migration due to war, ethnic and religious conflicts, and natural disasters is a critical issue requiring attention from multiple stakeholders.
According to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), by the end of 2022, 108.4 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced, with 76% being hosted in low- and middle-income countries.
Two-thirds of these refugees and forcibly displaced individuals chose urban areas to seek better economic and social opportunities.
This trend places urban areas at the forefront of the issue, necessitating more focused attention on urban planning and regulations to ensure better, scalable, and sustainable responses to the crisis.
In response to the forced migration issue, the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), in collaboration with the Resilience Development Initiative Urban Refugees (RDI UREF) Research Group, plans to host the International Association for the Study of Forced Migration (IASFM) Conference. The event is scheduled to take place from Jan. 20 to 23 at the UGM campus.
The Dean of FIB UGM, Professor Setiadi, stated that the international conference, themed “Forced Displacement in an Urbanizing World,” aims to advance knowledge and activism with a particular focus on urban issues and population displacement, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
The event will feature contributions from international and local experts, early-career researchers, students, and enthusiasts who will enrich the discussions.
“We hope participants will exchange knowledge from various disciplines related to forced migration and urban management, fostering future collaborations and partnerships,” said Professor Setiadi in a press statement on Friday (Jan. 3).
The dean noted that collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and other parties could contribute to the development of policy briefs on forced displacement, which could serve as a reference for future governmental policies.
The Asia-Pacific region has seen a significant increase in forced migration alongside regular migration trends. In 2023, the region was home to approximately 14.7 million people under UNHCR’s mandate, including 7 million refugees and asylum seekers, 4.9 million internally displaced persons, and 2.5 million stateless individuals.
“Unfortunately, many developing countries in the region lack adequate resources to respond to refugees’ needs, with limited examples of ideal practices and mechanisms,” Professor Setiadi explained.
In Indonesia, the risk of internal displacement has risen due to vulnerability to natural disasters, rapid urbanization, population growth, and internal conflicts.
According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (IDMC), Indonesia recorded 749,000 internally displaced persons at the end of 2021, including 73,000 displaced by conflict and violence and 155,000 displaced by disasters and environmental factors.
Additionally, according to the April 2024 UNHCR Fact Sheet, Indonesia hosts over 12,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with UNHCR in several major cities.
The IASFM 2025 Conference offers a diverse program for participants. Pre-conference activities include two workshops designed for students and early-career researchers: Creative Research Methods and Ethics of Conducting Research on Forced Displacement and Design Thinking and Forced Displacement as a Wicked Problem.
During the conference, attendees can participate in plenary sessions, ignite stages, special stages, art installations, and exhibition booths.
The conference will culminate in plenary sessions focusing on three critical topics: Reflections on the Global Agenda for International Migration, (Re)Conceptualizing Urban Displacement and the Right to the City, and Contemporary Approaches to Urban Displacement.
These topics were chosen to explore how migration and displacement to urban areas have evolved over the years.
The main sessions will feature roundtable discussions on regional approaches to urban displacement in the Asia-Pacific region.
Topics include the Bali Process, ASEAN, SAARC, the Pacific Islands Forum, other multilateral collaborations, and issues such as Rohingya displacement and refugee-led movements advocating for the right to the city.
The IASFM 2025 organizers, as part of an advocacy network for refugee management in Indonesia, aim to translate the conference discussions into practical solutions.
It is hoped that IASFM 2025 will contribute significantly to evidence-based policy changes in Indonesia and the broader region.
Author: Leony
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photo: Reuters