Advocates may push for the introduction of alternatives to the use of immigration detention that are more affordable, support health and wellbeing, respect human rights, advance case resolution processes, and increase voluntary and independent departure rates.134 Alternatives to detention should be formulated in a way that makes them inclusive, taking into account family unity and reunification. It should not be assumed that alternatives to detention bear no resemblance to detention: while they often lead to improved mobility and shelter outcomes, alternatives to detention are not always implemented without any “carceral purposes”135 and do not necessarily guarantee freedom of mobility. As such, advocates should be aware that the introduction of alternatives to detention may not by themselves provide a durable solution for refugees and asylum seekers, especially if these alternatives do not aim at ending the practice of immigration detention and in cases where they do not form part of a holistic approach to integrating refugee populations into host societies with access to basic rights.136 SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN CIVIL SOCIETY A global survey conducted in 2012 on “The Implementation of UNHCR’s Policy on Refugee Protection and Solutions in Urban Areas,” found that, “it is the relationship with civil society, at large, as opposed to a specific government entity, that is the key to expanding the protection space for urban refugees and asylum seekers.”137 This principle has found global consensus through the “whole-of-society approach” of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration and the “multi-stakeholder and partnership approach” of the Global Compact on Refugees.138 Despite this official recognition, the role of civil society remains limited in official processes throughout the region. National-level civil society actors are paramount to achieving improvements to refugee protection in the region. The case studies and positive practices featured in this report are overwhelmingly those conceived of, led, and carried out by national civil society organizations. This community remains fully dedicated to the issue when international assistance funding ebbs and flows or political priorities shift. Given their mandates and knowledge of local dynamics, they are the agents most able to dispel misinformation and counter community backlash. National civil society organizations��� importance must be recognized by all relevant actors, most importantly UNHCR and other international agencies, government, and international and regional NGOs and networks. Advocates working to improve refugee protection from outside of national contexts, whether globally or regionally, must make greater efforts to increase consultation and collaboration with actors at the national level when designing interventions and strategies, engage in legal empowerment strategies, and place local actors in the driving seat of change. Major improvements have been made in ensuring representation of refugees and affected populations in decision-making, though there remains a long way to go. Refugee-led organizations must be considered as a critical component of civil society, and similarly elevated. Efforts to achieve a “whole of society” approach must be continued, and civil society’s critical position must not be sidelined by the inclusion of previously unrepresented voices such as that of the private sector. There must be renewed and strengthened support for civil society: Governments and all international actors such as UNHCR must not ignore the crucial part they play in effectuating positive change. 42 UND OING PRECARIT Y: ELE VATING P OSITIVE PR ACTICES FOR REFU GEE PROTECTION IN SO U TH AND SO U THE AST ASIA