A refugee crisis gripping South-East Asia has seen thousands of trafficked Rohingya migrants wash up in the region in recent weeks.
Thailand is hosting a meeting with regional leaders addressing the issue and negotiating solutions to stop people smugglers from facilitating the dangerous journeys.
It comes as trafficked Rohingya told advocacy group, Human Rights Watch, of the horrific treament they endured for two months at sea.
In recent weeks, the plight of Myanmar's Rohingya has been thrust into the international spotlight, as scores of boats carrying thousands of Rohingya washed onto shores in South-East Asia.
And it's feared thousands more remain stranded in the Andaman Sea.
Deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division, Phil Robertson, says the risky boat journeys are often the only option for persecuted Rohingya Muslims.
He says sectarian violence in 2012 left many of Myanmar's Rohingya stateless.
"Many of them have ended up in internally displaced persons camps where they are surrounded by security forces and hostile Rahkine groups unable to move. They have few opportunities for livelihood, little access to education or health services and are depended on the international community for the food and water they receive to survive. The only way to get out is to take an offer from a broker who promises them a better life overseas."
He says Rohingya who survived the perilous journey have described the conditions on-board as hell on earth.
"They said that they were stuck below decks, provided very little food and water and completely unsanitary conditions. The traffickers were involved in beating people on-board."
Rohingya told Human Rights Watch that in some cases, smugglers lured people to make the sea voyage, without telling them what was involved.
One 13-year-old Rohingya girl told Human Rights Watch she was forced on to a boat.
"They dragged me to the boat. They had sticks, and threatened to beat me. I screamed, I cried loudly. My parents were weeping, but they couldn't do anything."
Myanmar's government has rejected international criticism of the country's treatment of Rohingya.
Hundreds of protesters have marched through the streets of the country's largest city, Yangon, many accusing the United Nations and Western media of unfairly blaming Myanmar.
"We can see that all international media are saying that the boatman are from Myanmar. The U.N. is trying to put all these refugees in our Myanmar country. That's why we protest against the U.N."
A meeting with regional leaders in Thailand, scheduled for Friday, aims to find solutions to the growing migrant crisis in South East Asia.
Paul Ronalds from Save the Children Australia says the Prime Minister must send significant representation to join other South East Asian governments in Bangkok.
"The Australian government must urgently prioritise the negotiation of a genuine and lasting regional agreement. And that requires a very high level representation from Australia to engage genuinely with our regional neighbours."
He says to date, Australia has sought to shift the problem elsewhere.
"Essentially they've said it's not in our back yard, it's not our problem. This is a global problem. We've seen people no longer dying in our backyard but instead dying at sea in the Andaman Sea. So unless we engage in a genuine regional solution, we're not going to have an impact on this."
He says acting unilaterally won't solve the problem.
"That requires us to change our policies and to actually ·ÚB6ðseek to negotiate with our neighbours in a way that supports their ability to conduct effective and fair refugee status determinations."
Australian charity, AusRelief has travelled to Indonesia to deliver aid to displaced Rohingya at a refugee camp in Aceh.
AusRelief's Wally Ayad says the situation is desperate and if countries in the region don't act now, bigger problems are likely to arise.
"Right now there are thousands of refugees on boats. Can you imagine if there was millions? It is a problem for the entire region. I think it requires regional engagement by all parties not just Australia. To look at this problem and address it right now where it is. It is an ugly situation right now but if it is addressed right now, the way it is, we can avoid a bigger problem later on."
Mr Ronalds agrees.
He says the plight of the Rohingya is part of a global humanitarian crisis.
"More than 50 million people are now displaced worldwide and that's the highest number since World War Two. And if Australia is going to contribute to solving this problem, we must play a much more constructive role by genuinely engaging with our neighbours in the region, especially Indonesia Thailand and Malaysia."
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