Institute of Chin Affairs

Research Program: Under its MoU with Mizoram University, the ICA established the Chin Research Centre at Mizoram University in Aizawl, Mizoram State, India in September 2022. With the support of the International Development Research Program (IDRC), the ICA also started a research fellowship program for displaced Myanmar students in September 2022 with 5 research Fellows and program staff members in Aizawl, Mizoram. At the end of 2023, the 5 Fellows submitted their final research papers and ICA is in the process of publishing their papers. (At the time of writing this report, 4 of the Research Fellows have found employment with different organizations and one of them was able to continue her MBA program at Mizoram University.) Additionally, we successfully collaborated with two PhD students, one from Canada and one from the US, to produce two research papers in total. Additionally, we completed a research paper on the participation of Chin women in politics. The Burmese language and communication skills course which was launched in September 2022 as part of the ICA's MoU with Mizoram University was completed in June 2023. The second batch of this course was launched in November 2023 with 12 students enrolled.

Education: During 2023, ICA supported 13 teachers at 5 refugee schools for nearly 2000 Myanmar refugee children in Champhai district of Mizoram State, India. ICA also provided school uniforms and learning materials for approximately 2,000 displaced students at these two locations and in Aizawl district of Mizoram State, India. Additionally with the support of the Myanmar Education Consortium (MEC), ICA and its local partner organization (Chin National Education Network - CNEN) started a project supporting over 100 schools with over 550 teachers and nearly 6,000 students in Falam township, Chin State, Myanmar in October 2023. These schools are located in rural villages in Falam township, serving the poorest children in Chin State.

Healthcare: Since May 18, 2022, the Institute of Chin Affairs work with its partner organizations to provide basic healthcare services to displaced and most needy persons in Chin State of Myanmar and Mizoram State of India. During 2023, the ICA ran a clinic (Lailun Medical Centre) at Zokhawthar village, Champhai District, Mizoram State, India. The ICA also operated mobile clinics for Myanmar refugees in Champhai district and Aizawl districts in Mizoram. The ICA medical teams ran mobile clinics 22 times at different refugee camps in Champhai district and 7 times at Aizawl district during 2023. Inside Chin State, the ICA medical teams ran a daily clinic since January 2023 and a mini hospital since May 2023 with two doctors and 5 nurses and a midwife. The ICA medical team was able to treat over 6,500 patients in Mizoram, India and 14,500 patients in Chin State during 2023. The medical team also conducted first aid training two times, one at ICA's mini hospital near Indian border in Chin State and another one at ICA clinic at Zokhawthar village in Mizoram. 40 members from different IDP and refugee camps participated in the training.

Human Rights Documentation: In 2023, the ICA released 37 reports documenting human rights violations against the Chin people in Myanmar under the military regime. The ICA also submitted eight reports to the office of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, United Nations Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), and other human rights organizations in 2023. Additionally, we issued 18 statements on various human rights issues throughout the year.

Humanitarian Relief: In 2023, the ICA provided humanitarian assistance to Chin and Myanmar displaced persons in Mizoram and Manipur States of India. Over 6,000 displaced persons received emergency shelter through camp reconstruction and repairs. Additionally, essential supplies like clothing, food, and mental health support were provided. The ICA team also procured and installed 6 water storage tanks at refugee camps in Zokhawthar and Uilui in Mizoram. These camps receive water supply once every one or two weeks. The water tanks allow them to store the water for use at other times.

Training: The ICA organized five training sessions in 2023, including workshops designed specifically for Chin youth and political and CSO leaders. Out of the training courses offered, 14 participants successfully completed the 2-months Human Rights Research Writing and Documentation course. In addition, we were able to conduct a short journalism/media training course for 12 participants. Additionally, the ICA conducted Leadership Training, Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Awareness Training, and Resource Federalism and Environmental Justice Training for Chin political leaders and Members of Parliament.