Methods study Purpose and Development This Participatory Action Research is a Rohingya-led initiative launched by Youth Congress Rohingya.35 Recognising the deteriorating situation in the refugee camps, YCR organised this study to collect information to be used for advocacy initiatives aimed at improving conditions for Rohingya in Bangladesh. Specifically, YCR investigated the following: • The nature of restrictions on freedom of movement, including the specific restrictions themselves, the policies underpinning them, changes in restrictions in the past five years, the extent to which restrictions in Bangladesh compare to restrictions previously imposed in Myanmar, and the reasons that these restrictions exist. • The enforcement of restrictions on freedom of movement, including understanding who is responsible for enforcing the restrictions, what punitive measures (e.g., violence, extortion, or detention) are used for enforcement, and how documentation status, fences, and checkpoints assist in enforcing the restrictions. • The extent to which police and government corruption drive restrictions against Rohingya. • The impact of movement restrictions on the safety, livelihoods, healthcare, education, food and material needs, and cultural and religious practices of Rohingya living in the camps. • The gendered impacts of restrictions on freedom of movement, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) associated with restrictions. • The impact of restrictions on Rohingya personal dignity, including feelings of dehumanisation and fears related to the consequences of restrictions for future generations. YCR emphasised a participatory approach at every stage of the research process by including the full research team in the design, data collection, analysis, and reporting. All members of the team were involved to some extent at every stage. Team Selection and Training The YCR team that conducted this study consisted of one Rohingya project coordinator, 10 Rohingya researchers, and three transcribers. YCR also recruited two international researchers to provide technical assistance and support with data analysis and report writing. Later, additional international volunteers were recruited to assist with data analysis. Most of the members of the YCR team were living in the camps at the time of the research, and all had previous experience conducting research in the camps. 35 Participatory Action Research (PAR) is a research approach that sees research subjects not only as active participants and researchers themselves, but also as the most knowledgeable and most suited to lead initiatives in their own communities. It is a bottom-up approach that positions vulnerable and marginalised groups as the most capable actors (and researchers) to change their lives. While there is no singular origin of the approach, it is rooted in grassroots movements from the Global South in the 1970s. See: The Sage Handbook of Action Research: Participative Inquiry and Practice. 19