Who We Are
Migration and Rights Lab (MRL) is a non-profit social development think tank organization that is passionate about engaging youth and marginalized communities, migration, child labor, forced labor, human trafficking, refugees, research, advocacy, and organizational development. MRL engages various stakeholders including community members, coalitions, civil society, and policymakers to come together to pool their collective skills, resources, and experience to develop shared analysis and plans of action. We advocate for rights, and justice and raise awareness while increasing communication and information sharing among stakeholders. MRL also implements targeted participatory community development programs in a wide range of areas to mitigate vulnerabilities to forced and irregular migration.
Our international, national, and associated backgrounds are diverse and experienced in areas such as human rights and environmental due diligence in the supply chain, youth empowerment, child protection, human trafficking, research, monitoring and evaluation, advocacy, migration, forced labor, gender, refugees, climate change, and community program development using human-centered programming, rights-based approaches, and participatory rural appraisals. Our collaborative programs focus on continuous learning.
Goal
Our main goal is to create a participatory environment for dialogue on human rights, migration and international development that is rooted in evidence and rights-based approaches.
Vision
Our vision is a world where governments, organizations, and communities provide an enabling environment for migrants and left-behind children and spouses to harness their full potential and be protected against marginalization, abuses, and exploitation regardless of their race, gender, age, or disability.
Our Mission
Our mission is to collaborate with multisectoral stakeholders including communities, organizations, government, and individuals and groups with lived experience towards participatory preventive and remedial intervention strategies that fulfill individual and community development aspirations.
Our Philosophy & Values
Our underpinning philosophy is that migration and human rights are essential for human and social capital development, and that rule of law ensures human safety and dignity. These can be attained under the general atmosphere of:
- Evidence-based research, monitoring, and evaluation
- Access to development and social protection services
- Efficient functioning of the rule of law
- Strengthened civil society, media, and coalitions
- Gender-sensitive, victim-centered, and rights-based approaches to policy and program interventions
- Strengthened community and grassroots capacity and participation
- None-discrimination: tolerance, fairness, justice, inclusion, equality, and equity
Our Trustees
We are a registered NGO Company limited by guarantee. It is governed by the Company’s Act 179 and its adopted Articles of incorporation, which sets out the organizations management rules and procedures.
