The Asian Roundtable on Social Protection (AROSP), part of the Global Coalition on the Social Protection Floor, has long advocated for universal social protection, especially maternity protection. It views social protection as a fundamental human right that must include informal workers, women, people with disabilities, gender-diverse communities, and marginalized groups in developing countries.AROSP is deeply concerned about wars and conflicts—from West Asia and the Russia-Ukraine war to Myanmar—that devastate livelihoods, destroy infrastructure, and weaken social protection systems. These crises spread beyond borders, fueling energy shocks, food insecurity, inflation, unemployment, and forced migration, with the poorest communities suffering most.Asian migrant workers, employed in low-paid sectors across West Asia, the Gulf, Europe, and beyond, face extreme vulnerability during wars. Many lose jobs, wages, and shelter, while women migrant workers endure violence and exploitation. Families back home suffer from lost remittances, and returnees face debt, stigma, and lack of reintegration support. Migrant workers are often excluded from social protection in both host and origin countries, creating a severe protection gap.AROSP calls for immediate ceasefires, rebuilding of infrastructure, restoration of public services, and universal social protection. It insists that protection is not charity but a right and responsibility of governments, institutions, employers, and civil society. Part 1 included Theme 1: War, Geopolitics, and the Rights of Grassroots People and Theme 2: focusing on migrant/ displaced women and girls.
Part 1 Agenda:
Opening - by Anwar Sastro Maruf, KPRI, Indonesia
Theme 1: War, Geopolitics, and the Rights of Grassroots People
Moderator: Raquel Castillo, SPELL (Philippines)
Speaker: War and armed conflict and their impact on Social Protection in communities - by Prof. Walden Bello, Philippines
Panelists:
-1- The Genocide in Palestine by Sabreen AbeedAllah, PMRS (Palestine)
-2- Women and Peace in Nigeria, by Oluwatoyin Towobola - WOPO (Nigeria)
Theme 2: emerging incidents of harassment, exploitation, and violence against migrant/ displaced women and girls in the context of conflict and climate change
Moderator: Om Thapalyia (HomeNet Nepal (Nepal)
Speaker: an overview of emerging incidents of harassment, exploitation, and violence against migrant/ displaced women and girls, in the context of conflict and climate change in Asia - by Manjula Pradeep, - NCWL, India
Panelists:
-1- Internal migrant workers' issues in Pakistan - by Raza Waseem, Sindh TEVTA, Pakistan
-2- Exploitation and violence against internal migrant women and girls (garment workers) in Bangladesh - by Saki REZWANA, OSHE Foundation Bangladesh
-3- Findings from the YCOWA survey on internal and external migrant Burmese women and girls - by Thiha, YCOWA, Myanmar
-4- Displaced Palestinian women and girls - by Saja Fatiha, PMRS, Palestine
-5- Livelihood impact on displaced women and girls in Manipur, India - by Mary Beth (India)
flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_m2tlA10uAM3m3xNt6EFcQhhJ3J96SRA/view?usp=sharing
detailed concept note: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DM7qantKAOFn18rmTvhLEG9K8BESlmjs/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115718862395295771625&rtpof=true&sd=true
