CSDI’s Purposes

Through BPSOS’s implementing partner, the People Serving People Foundation, we work with civil society groups to develop their capacity to become self-sufficient.

This includes but is not limited to:

• enabling the participation of historically excluded independent CSOs in regional and global forums on human rights and/or religious freedom; 
• creating a safe space for independent CSOs and other international organizations to discuss and advance freedom of religion or belief and other rights; 
• offering training on human rights, civil society, and capacity building for independent CSOs and religious communities;
•  building partnerships among independent civil society organizations and between them and the international community;
• and supporting independent CSOs in engaging with UN mechanisms and human rights instruments.

Website.

Rescuing Human Trafficking Victims Across the Globe

The Coalition to Abolish Modern-day Slavery in Asia (CAMSA) was formed in February of 2008 through the joint efforts of BPSOS, the International Society for Human Rights, the Vietnamese Canadian Federation, and the U.S. Committee to Protect Vietnamese Workers. While we focus on the needs of our Vietnamese communities in America, we continue to care about our compatriots who are at risk in foreign lands. One component of our international initiatives presently focuses on fighting human trafficking.

Through CAMSA, we not only rescue the victims but hold governments accountable and force changes in their legal frameworks. So far we have been exceptionally effective on multiple fronts and have made significant impacts on the policies of many governments. CAMSA brings our anti-trafficking efforts back in line with our mission: defending the liberty and dignity of Vietnamese.

Center for Asylum Protection (CAP)

The primary mission of CAP – a project of our implementing partner, the People Serving People Foundation (PSPF), established with the active assistance of BPSOS – is to support and advocate for the rights of asylum seekers and refugees, to provide advice, representation and protection for people making asylum applications to UNHCR Thailand, and to help empower asylum seekers and refugees to realize their rights in Thailand. 

CAP works primarily with the urban refugee population in Thailand.

Refugee Support Network:

Assisted by trained volunteers recruited from the different asylum seekers and refugee populations, BPSOS fellows strive to meet their diverse and compounding needs including personal safety, livelihood, education, and referral to medical services among others.  BPSOS also advocates for the quick resettlement of UNHCR-recognized refugees and seeks benefactors to help those about to resettle with paying fines for illegal stay. Under special circumstances, BPSOS seeks emergency financial support from partners for particularly at-risk human rights defenders.

Religious Freedom

In the late 1990’s, BPSOS joined a small number of NGOs to successfully advocate for the passage of the U.S.’ International Religious Freedom Act. The organization then advocated with the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and the State Department’s International Religious Freedom (IRF) Office on the designation of Vietnam as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for egregious, systematic and ongoing religious persecution.

• 2015 – BPSOS joined the IRF Roundtable; its CEO & President later served on its Steering Committee
• 2015 – BPSOS co-launched the annual Southeast Asia Freedom of Religion or Belief (SEAFORB) conference
• 2016 – BPSOS facilitated the Vietnam Freedom of Religion or Belief (VNFORB) Roundtable
• 2017 – BPSOS co-established the SEAFORB Network and has since served on its Steering Committee
• 2018, 2019, 2022 – BPSOS participated in the IRF Ministerial held in the U.S. and UK
• 2020 – BPSOS’ CEO & President joined the Council of Experts of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA)
• 2021 – BPSOS led the initiative to nurture and develop the next generation of FORB Champions
• 2021 – BPSOS co-convened the biweekly Roundtable on Myanmar in the aftermath of the military coup in that country
• 2021 – BPSOS coordinated the global campaign for religious prisoners of conscience
• 2018, 2019, 2022 – BPSOS participated in the IRF Ministerial held in the U.S. and UK
  2023 Ministerial Nov 28 - 30 in Praha, Czechia [See more]
• 2021 – BPSOS led the initiative to nurture and develop the next generation of FORB Champions. Upcoming event: Global Youth Summit, October 19, 2023 [See more]