Established in 1991, the Asian Migrant Centre (AMC) is a regional NGO based in Hong Kong. AMC carries out action oriented research on migration issues, policy and media advocacy, and capacity building for organisations working to empower, protect and promote the rights of migrants in Asia.

Since 2002, AMC enjoyes a Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.

Vision
AMC shares a common vision with migrants and advocates for the building of humane, just, pluralistic, and democratic societies founded on the principles of human rights, social justice, gender equality and equity, non-discrimination, sustainability, and inclusive participation. It advocates that the development of societies should always be premised on upholding human dignity, strengthening families and communities, and promoting each person’s full potential.

 

Central Goal
AMC’s goal is to promote the human rights, dignity and empowerment of migrant workers and their families in Asia, to build their capacities to assert and defend their rights and interests, and become partners in sustainable, just and gender-fair social development.

To further this aim, AMC has implemented a number of programs with the objectives of promoting migrants’ human rights and capacity building, strategies to help realize migrants’ economic and social empowerment, and research to monitor the current situation of migrants in Asia.

 

Priority (Target) Groups

“Migrant workers” primarily served by AMC are cross-border migrants and their families in Asia. This includes both documented and undocumented migrant workers, whether they are in the pre-migration, onsite, or return stage of the migration process.

AMC gives specific attention to migrant workers who are marginalized, vulnerable and oppressed, including migrant workers in informal sectors whose work is not protected by national labour laws, migrants in labour intensive sectors and service sectors, and undocumented migrant workers. AMC notes that the oppression, marginalization and vulnerability of migrant workers is intensified by the convergence of gender, class and race/ethnicity factors.  The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, international declarations and major international human rights instruments reinforce the rights of these vulnerable migrants and the obligations of member states.

AMC’s capacity building, training, organizing and networking programmes primarily caters to organisations of these migrant workers and advocacy groups/NGOs supporting them.