Lack of decent work, healthcare and education in South and South-East Asia forces millions into precarious migration, new UN Human Rights report finds
BANGKOK (27 November 2025) – A new report from the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) reveals that millions of people across South and South-East Asia are migrating not by choice, but out of necessity—driven by systemic deprivation of human rights and opportunities at home.
Entitled “Lack of Access to Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as a Driver of Precarious Migration from South and South-East Asia”, the report draws on macroeconomic data, field research in Bangladesh and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), and interviews with migrants and those aspiring to migrate to show how poverty, unemployment, inadequate public services, and climate change are compelling people to leave their countries in search of dignity and a better future.
“Migration should be a choice, not a necessity born of desperation,” said Cynthia Veliko, Representative of the UN Human Rights Regional Office for South-East Asia. “This report shows that when people do not see a future for themselves at home—because their rights, such as decent work, adequate education and healthcare, are not available to them—they can be forced into unsafe migration and exploitation, often at great personal cost to themselves and their families.”
In 2024, over 72 million international migrants originated from South and South-East Asia, a nearly 13 percent increase from an estimated 64 million in 2020. Youth and women are disproportionately affected by unemployment, low wages, and gender-based discrimination. Climate change is increasingly disrupting livelihoods in many countries. While remittances are vital to families and economies, they often mask the social cost of migration and underinvestment in domestic development.
The report calls for a shift toward a human rights economy that puts people and the planet at the centre of economic decisions. It urges governments in countries of origin to prioritize public investment in health, education, job creation, and a clean and healthy environment and to reduce inequality through fair taxation and inclusive policies. For countries of destination, the report recommends expanding migration pathways that uphold international human rights protection standards. It also calls on international financial institutions to align debt and fiscal policies with States’ human rights obligations.
“Behind every migrant is a story of sacrifice, resilience and hope. Too often, their journeys are reduced to economic decisions, obscuring the deeper struggle for dignity for themselves and for the loved ones they leave behind,” Veliko said.
"These are not merely individual aspirations. Education, healthcare, decent work, and a healthy environment are human rights – duties that States must uphold to ensure dignity and equality for all,” she stressed. “Governments should build inclusive societies through sustained investment in public services, consistent opportunities for meaningful participation in policy development and decision-making by all, and ensuring fair and equitable access to resources.”
Read the full report here
View the story map here
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