Migration

A gender perspective is essential to understanding both the causes and consequences of international migration. Female migrants are increasingly part of worker flows, moving on their own to become the principal wage earners for their families. Most women move voluntarily, but women and girls are also part of the flows of forced migrants who have fled conflict, persecution, environmental degradation, natural disasters and other situations that affect their habitat, livelihood and security. The trafficking of people for prostitution and forced labour also, is an area of increasing concern to the international community. This Survey sets out recommendations that, if adopted, will improve the situation of migrant, refugee and trafficked women.

Authored by Katharine M. Donato, Lisa Singh, Ali Arab, Elizabeth Jacobs and Douglas Post, this Migration Research Series paper builds on prior studies of migration misinformation by analysing Twitter conversations in Spanish, the fourth most widespread language in the world. The paper assesses the prevalence of different types of misinformation about migrants and migration in Spanish-language tweets and examines whether and how migration misinformation varies by location and shifts in the spread of this misinformation. Findings reveal that migration misinformation is overwhelmingly about safety threats and, to a lesser extent, about economic and health threats. Migration misinformation is also global: tweets are spatially distributed in specific ways and linked more to traditional news outlets than other sources. Although it resonates more on some days than others, migration misinformation also appears to be fairly consistent across the period of study.

This Facilitator’s Guide is intended to support trainers wishing to introduce the protection of the human rights of migrants to State officials on the African continent. The content is organized into four main modules, allowing each module to be used in isolation, or in combination with others depending on the need. The first module focuses on international law as the foundation of relations between States, and between States and individuals. It provides an overview of key human rights instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and their accountability mechanisms. Part of the emphasis of this module is on the historical evolution of the international legal system, and the thinking that led to the human rights instruments that followed the wars of the early 20th century. Subsequent modules address State authority in migration management, covering the admission of non-nationals and nationals returning home, as well as the detention and expulsion of those who are non-compliant with the requirements of entry or stay. Each of these is juxtaposed against a succession of individual human rights to facilitate understanding of the parametres of the State’s authority. Sections and subsections generally begin with a case study challenge to help participants focus on a specific tension between State authority and a human rights obligation in the migration context, followed by lecture notes for facilitators and a review of relevant case law and judicial reasoning. By using this Guide, trainers will be equipped to support officials in Africa in bridging the gap between the aspirations and principles of the United Nations Charter, international and regional human rights obligations, and the complexities of managing migration.

Authored by Rasadhika Sharma and Ulrike Grote, this publication in the Migration Research Series analyses what determines Internet usage among internal migrants in two countries in South-East Asia. The paper is based on data collected under the Thailand Viet Nam Socio Economic Panel migrant tracking survey, with a sample of 709 internal migrants from Viet Nam and Thailand. It examines if, and to what extent, internal migrants’ demographic characteristics, their personal traits and economic background influence their Internet usage in terms of social interaction, information-seeking, entertainment and commercial transactions.

Authored by Xinyu (Promio) Wang, this Migration Research Series paper explores what belonging means and entails for Chinese migrants in Japan in today’s digitalized societies. Drawing on interviews with 55 Chinese migrants in Japan between 2017 and 2019, the paper highlights the impact of digital technologies on fostering a sense of belonging to a transnational imagined community. It also sheds light on how the interactions of the digital and physical spaces have framed a multidimensional sense of belonging for Chinese migrants in Japan.

Authored by Maruja M.B. Asis, this Migration Research Series paper provides an overview of the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers under the COVID-19 pandemic. While noting the Philippines' good practices and guidelines that have helped the Government to respond to crisis situations in the past, the paper explores the unprecedented and enormous challenges so far encountered and highlights emerging good practices for repatriation, including the role of technology.

Authored by Niva Shrestha, Joelle Mak and Cathy Zimmerman, this Migration Research Series paper explores the concepts of stigma and empowerment through the perceptions and experiences of 55 prospective Nepalese women labour migrants. The results of this qualitative study show that migration can empower women labour migrants gaining access to human and economic resources, by exercising agency through decision-making and, through this, achieving self-worth. But the associated stigma also disempowers them with experiences they face from themselves, their families, communities and the institutions around them. To foster the positive aspects of labour migration of women, interventions are needed to challenge the social and cultural structures that perpetuate gender inequalities and lead to stigmatization of migrant women.

Authored by Sam Grundy and Sarah Zingg, this Migration Research Series paper discusses the role of the community stabilization approach to transition away from humanitarian crises in order to lay the ground for attaining durable solutions for displaced persons and, ultimately, operationalize the humanitarian–development–peace nexus. The paper focuses on the multidimensional destabilizing impacts of displacement crises and the factors limiting opportunities for communities to transition away from acute vulnerability and aid dependence, and defines the community stabilization approach as a means to overcome these challenges. It then presents the community stabilization core programming principles framed through a community-based planning methodology – a practical community-driven, local government-led process intended to support the transition of impacted communities from displacement crises through improved stability – drawing on examples from Zimbabwe, Somalia and Ethiopia.

In this Migration Research Series paper, Marie McAuliffe examines the widespread and unprecedented imposition of movement restrictions by governments in an attempt to limit COVID-19 transmission and infection, with particular reference to the ongoing securitization of migration. In the current context of growing misinformation, increasing unilateral “strongman” politics, and massive technological change, she offers an initial reflection as to whether extraordinary measures are likely to become ordinary, and the implications for human rights and mobility, before then discussing the need to re-think and de-link migration and mobility with reference to the opportunities and challenges presented by COVID-19.

Authored by Jeremaiah M. Opiniano, this Migration Research Series paper explores some of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Filipino overseas migrants and the responses and measures adopted by the Philippines in 2020. It reviews the main implications and challenges that were raised by the pandemic between 25 March 2020 and 24 March 2021, from issues concerning repatriations and returns, to decreasing overseas employment and the impact on international remittances.