Definition
Basic
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) defines migration as the movement of a person or a group of persons, either across an international border or within a state. It is a population movement, encompassing any kind of movement of people, whatever its length, composition and causes. This includes migration of refugees, displaced persons, economic migrants, and persons moving for other purposes, including family reunification.
History
Origins
Despite the incidence of abuse, for a long time migrants’ rights remained on the margins of the international human rights agenda. One reason for this was the relatively little reporting by human rights NGOs and the dominance of refugee protection in the migration field. Perhaps taking their cue from Geneva, international human rights NGOs have typically placed greater emphasis on refugee protection than on migrants' rights.
With regard to refugee protection, NGOs have traditionally avoided overt involvement in protection activities; instead, this work has been seen as the preserve of specifically mandated organisations such as UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). Lately, the current protection regime has come under increased scrutiny with the occurrence of over-extended gaps. NGOs are discussing new roles in protection at field level, the goal being to improve the safety of refugees and the displaced.
Current Status
There is now a greater recognition of migrants' rights than earlier. Migrants’ rights gained momentum as new international laws and reporting mechanisms, among other things, have strengthened awareness and created new protection tools. NGO reporting on migrants' rights is increasing, but it still remains modest in comparison with reporting on refugees.
UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) relies on NGO partnerships to accomplish important humanitarian work with refugees. In these partnerships, NGOs provide an array of services for vulnerable people, including immediate relief – food, water and shelter – as well as legal assistance, education and health care.
Influence of NGOs in Migration
Civil society’s influence in the migration field, compared to its role in other fields, is just beginning to take form. It is argued that civil society actors, including NGOs, can and should play a critical role in international migration policy development. First and foremost, these actors can work to ensure that the migration agenda reflects existing international legal standards. Their influence would also be critical in monitoring states’ obligations, providing information and lobbying key principles.
Challenges
Migrants often become universal “scapegoats”, targeted for violence and excluded from legal protections in many places due to their immigration status or nationality. The increased designation of migrants as “illegal” further aggravates the deprivation of rights entitled to everyone under international human rights law.
Lack of Substantial Integration Policy
Almost all European countries lack substantial integration policy in relation to asylum seekers and victims of trafficking. In addition, official policy ignores unauthorised migrants. As a result, NGOs are largely responsible for protecting these groups. However, NGOs, which depend on money from governments and private foundations, have had to limit their activities in some countries due to tight funding.
Migration Information Source
Exploitation of Migrant Workers
Some 200 million people live and/or work in a foreign country. Because they are outside the legal protection of their home countries, migrants are often particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
The European Union’s Agency for Safety and Health at Work has highlighted three occupational safety and health issues relating to migrant workers that give concern. These issues include the high employment rates of migrant workers in high-risk sectors, language and cultural barriers in communication and training as well as the fact that migrant workers often work overtime, while being in poor health, thus becoming more prone to occupational injuries and diseases.
New Europe
LGBTI Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) asylum seekers and refugees are among the most vulnerable people in the world. A survey conducted by ORAM (Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration) suggests that many NGOs are unaware of the need for targeted policies to help these vulnerable individuals and espouse a “blind” approach to sexual orientation. This calls for NGOs to build their knowledge and capacity on LGBTI issues in order to provide the necessary protection of this group.
Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration
Possibilities
Improving Responses to Mixed Migration
The DRIVE project, led by ICMC (International Catholic Migration Commission) in partnership with seven other NGOs, aims to initiate and strengthen networking and capacity building among NGOs, local service providers, international and national institutions engaged with boat people. The project also strives to identify important gaps and good responses when dealing with boat arrivals and mixed migration flows in the Mediterranean.
The project addresses the fact that many countries' immigration laws are not adequate to deal with the phenomenon of “mixed migration”. Mixed migration refers to situations in which refugees, asylum seekers, economic migrants and even victims of human trafficking are using the same routes, means of transport and smuggling networks to reach a shared destination, but are driven by different motives and have different claims to protection and humanitarian assistance.
Meeting Migrants’ Health Needs
Although undocumented migrants have increased health needs, they experience barriers to accessing health care and remain largely hidden to health services in many countries. With states failing to meet their health care obligations, the duty to protect undocumented migrants falls upon NGOs and voluntary health providers. These organisations work to address the barriers facing undocumented migrants and where access is denied, they create alternative systems of care.
Key Actors
NGO Committee on Migration
The NGO Committee on Migration, which serves as an umbrella organisation for more than thirty NGOs, is a member of the Conference of Non Governmental Organisations (CoNGO) in consultative relationship with the United Nations. The mission of the NGO Committee on Migration is to encourage the promotion and protection of migrants and their human rights, in accordance with the United Nations Charter.
Migrants Rights International
Migrants Rights International (MRI) is a non-governmental organisation and federation of migrants’ and migrants’ rights organisations, trade unions and faith-based groups within the various global regions. MRI is involved in promoting and defending the human rights of migrants.
Miscellaneous
Illegal Migration of Youth to Europe
The African Development Organisation for Migration (AFDOM) has urged the government to institute measures to curb the illegal migration of the youth to Europe in search for greener pastures. The NGO, established to help stem illegal migration, said if the current trend of illegal migration was not checked, a huge number of the nation’s productive youth, especially those in schools, would abandon their education to travel abroad.
Transition to Globalisation
African Migration, Global Inequalities, and Human Rights: Connecting the Dots
The concerns of destination countries and the framing of migration as a problem have long dominated public debate on international migration, and to a lesser extent, policy analysis and scholarly research. Anti-migrant sentiment, leading to restrictive legislation, official abuses against immigrants and in extreme cases xenophobic violence, is widespread in countries as diverse as South Africa, Libya, Italy, Switzerland and the United States.
Globalisation > Demography > Migration
Transition to Political Tools
An Opportunity and a Challenge: Migration in the European Union
Immigration in the EU is, and will remain, a fact of life. Immigrants form part of the economic and cultural fabric of the European Union. They are present at all levels of the labour force, filling gaps that natives cannot fill. The challenge is to make sure that immigration benefits all – EU citizens and society, immigrants and their families and, as far as possible, their countries of origin.
Political Tools > Regional > Europe > EU > Ext. Policies > Migration
Transition to Political Actors
NGOs and Transnational Networks: Wild Cards in World Politics
Non-governmental organisations and their networks are proliferating in all regions of the world. They address every transnational issue from population to peace, human rights to species rights, genocide to AIDS. Supporters claim NGOs are effective in achieving their goals, while detractors counter that NGO power is paltry compared to governments and corporations.
Political Actors > Civil Society > NGOs
