Migration
Introduction
La première session de l’IDM 2021, qui s’est tenue du 25 au 27 mai 2021, portait sur le thème « Accélérer l’action intégrée en faveur du développement durable : migration, environnement et changement climatique ». En raison de la pandémie de COVID-19 et des restrictions imposées aux voyages, elle s’est exceptionnellement déroulée en ligne.
Introduction
Regular pathways are essential to realizing the promise of migration and addressing global challenges. Too often migration is viewed as a problem, yet it holds key benefits for individuals, communities and countries alike. In the context of increasing conflicts and economic uncertainty, the scale of the opportunities that human mobility offers as well as the costs of not adequately addressing it are rising. The benefits of well-managed migration are wide-ranging, from helping address climate change and filling labour shortages to managing demographic transitions. To deliver on the promise of migration, people must have more and better opportunities to migrate regularly, safely, with dignity and for their own benefit, as well as that of origin and destination societies – in other words, focus must turn to improving regular migration pathways.
Introducción
La primera sesión del Diálogo Internacional sobre la Migración 2021, celebrada los días 25 a 27 de mayo de 2021, se consagró al tema “Impulsar la acción integrada en materia de desarrollo sostenible: migración, medio ambiente y cambio climático”. Debido a la pandemia ocasionada por la enfermedad coronavírica (COVID-19) y a las consiguientes restricciones de viaje, esta sesión se celebró excepcionalmente en línea.
Conclusions
Le changement climatique et la dégradation de l’environnement sont incontestablement des préoccupations majeures, et leurs incidences sur la migration, la santé, la paix et le développement durable est déjà manifeste dans toutes les régions du monde. Il faut, de toute urgence, agir plus vite et de manière collective et intégrée afin de répondre aux inquiétudes liées à la sécurité humaine et aux droits de l’homme qui résultent des effets néfastes du changement climatique, de la dégradation de l’environnement et des catastrophes.
III. Defining and measuring international migration
International migration is a complex phenomenon that is difficult to conceptualize and measure in a coherent and consistent manner. Many countries lack up-to-date information on migration patterns and trends and on migrants and their basic characteristics. Strengthening the evidence base on international migration would enable more informed policymaking. Accurate, consistent and timely data on international migration and migrants are essential to monitor progress in the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals and the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
XXI. Facilitating orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people
A growing number of countries have focused on providing options for safe, orderly and regular migration, with more than half of all Governments with available data reporting that they have such policies. A much lower proportion of Governments, however, report having policy measures to protect the human rights of migrants. Further progress is needed given that the respect, protection and fulfilment of migrants’ human rights, regardless of migration status, are essential for ensuring that migrants become active, empowered and well-integrated members of societies.
VIII. International migrants and their distribution by broad age group
Populations of international migrants have a distinctive age pattern that reflects both the timing of migration trajectories and how migrants are defined and counted. Most international migrants are of working age, meaning that they are between the ages of 20 and 64. Children and young people tend to be underrepresented among international migrants, with roughly five migrants of working age for every international migrant under the age of 20. International migrants aged 65 years or older comprise less than one in six migrants globally. Refugees and asylum seekers tend to include large numbers of children and thus to be much younger on average compared to other migrant groups.
IX. Contribution of international migration to population size
International migration contributes both directly and indirectly to changes in population size. Immigrants and their descendants increase the size of a population, while emigration has the opposite effect. In the future, immigration is expected to become the main driver of population growth in many high-income countries, attenuating or counteracting a potential decline in population size due to a negative balance of births and deaths. The impact of international migration on population size in most countries or regions of origin tends to be relatively small, especially for those where the population is growing rapidly.
Executive summary
Every year, millions of people leave their countries of origin to move abroad. International migrants hail from all regions, with some settling in neighbouring countries and territories, while others cross the globe. For some, the experience of living abroad is of short duration, while for others, it extends over a lifetime. Migrants include some of the most highly educated and successful individuals in the world, as well as people suffering from multiple and intersecting forms of deprivation. The reasons and circumstances that motivate or compel people to migrate are also diverse, with some leaving in search of better work opportunities, to pursue educational goals, to reunite with family or simply for leisure, while others are forced to migrate to escape conflict, violence or persecution.
XVIII. Food security and sustainable agriculture
Hunger and food insecurity remain important drivers of human mobility. In countries of origin, remittances-receiving households tend to be more food-secure compared to households that do not receive remittances from abroad. The remittances or savings accumulated abroad by migrants can be invested to improve the sustainability of food production systems. Promoting sustainable farming and aquaculture as well as other types of rural development can create opportunities and jobs in rural areas, ensuring that people migrate out of choice rather than necessity. Migrants play a key role in agriculture and food systems in countries of destination. Migrants, however, are often at high risk of experiencing food insecurity.
XV. Decent work
In many parts of the world, people migrate because they are unable to build sustainable livelihoods at home. As the number of people living in the poorest regions of the world continues to grow, creating more opportunities for work that is productive and delivers a fair income is critical for addressing some of the adverse drivers and structural factors that motivate or compel people to migrate. Given the demographic realities and development challenges these countries face, however, it is equally important to enhance the availability of pathways for regular migration in a manner that facilitates labour mobility and promote decent work. For host countries that rely heavily on migrant workers, and particularly those with ageing populations, planning for future labour market needs by investing in education and training both in their own countries and in countries from which they may recruit migrant workers in the future is critical to address deficits in the availability of decent work and lessen the negative impact on countries of origin resulting from “brain drain”. Reducing the vulnerability of migrants in the workplace, protecting the rights of migrant workers, facilitating fair and ethical recruitment, and promoting the mutual recognition of skills, qualifications and competences are some additional steps that countries of destination should take to maximize the benefits of labour migration.
XIII. Education
The number of young people who study outside of their country of origin has grown rapidly over the past decades and has helped to foster greater knowledge production and exchange. However, the emigration of highly educated individuals can deprive countries of the skilled labour force needed for achieving the Goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. When the skills and qualifications that migrants carry with them are not recognized, this can lead to “brain waste”. Facilitating the recognition of skills, qualifications and competences is critical to minimizing such waste. Many countries have explicit policies to attract migrant workers with high levels of human capital. Complying with ethical recruitment practices and actively investing in the development and training of skilled labour in countries of origin and destination can help ensure that the migration of highly educated individuals does not exacerbate inequality in access to human capital among countries. In host societies, children of migrant families can face economic, social,institutional, and other types of obstacles in accessing education, especially if they have an irregular immigration status. Addressing language and other barriers can improve migrant children’s educational outcomes and promote their integration into host societies.
IV. Where do migrants reside?
Most international migrants reside in high-income countries, with Europe hosting the largest number of migrants globally, followed by Northern America. In recent decades, nearly all regions have seen an increase in the number of migrants residing there. However, while a combination of labour and family migration explain most of the recent increase in the number of migrants living in Europe and Northern America, for Latin America and the Caribbean, Northern Africa and Western Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, forced migration has been an additional important driver. Most of the world’s international migrants live in a small number of high-income countries, whereas most of the world’s refugees and asylum seekers are hosted by a handful of mainly low-income and middle-income countries.
XX. Legal and normative framework for international migration
Over the past decades, international migration has emerged as a critical policy issue. Conferences, summits and meetings at the United Nations have helped further the dialogue on international migration, building consensus and fostering cooperation between Governments and other stakeholders. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognized the contributions of migrants to inclusive and sustainable growth and called on Member States to strengthen cooperation to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration with full respect for human rights. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, which is rooted in the 2030 Agenda, and the Global Compact on Refugees have placed international migration squarely at the center of the international agenda.
XVI. Sustained and inclusive economic growth
International migration can contribute to promoting sustained and inclusive economic growth in both countries of origin and countries of destination. For instance, the remittances that migrants send home tend to benefit the households, communities and economies that receive them. However, remittances can also create dependencies that stifle growth and lead to cycles of emigration and economic stagnation or decline. To optimize the transformative impact of remittances for sustainable development and harness the contributions of migrants and diasporas, countries of origin should enact policies to enhance economic competitiveness, strengthen governance and social institutions, and facilitate migrant and diaspora investments and entrepreneurship. In countries of destination, the inflow of migrant labour and human capital can contribute to enhancing productivity and boosting the capacity for innovation, with positive impacts for economic growth. The fiscal contribution of migration is also important for host countries, particularly those with rapidly ageing populations.
I. Why is international migration so important?
Throughout history, migration has been a human strategy to fulfil individual aspirations and respond to adversity or lackof opportunity. Even though the scale of international migration is small compared to other major demographic trends, its social and economic ramifications are consequential not only for migrants and their families, but also for people in countries of origin, transit and destination who are not themselves migrants. The economic, social and political relevance of international migration is likely to continue to increase in the years ahead, tied in part to other critical trends including climate change, population ageing, urbanization and conflict.
XIX. Climate change and responsible consumption and production
Natural disasters, environmental degradation and climate change are among the adverse drivers and structural factors that compel people to migrate. With the number of people displaced by weather-related events both within and across borders expected to rise, anticipating and planning for climate-related migration is imperative, in particular for vulnerable countries such as small island developing States. Building adaptive capacity and achieving the Goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can reduce future risks of climate-related displacement. Curbing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting responsible consumption and production worldwide can help to attenuate some of the adverse drivers of climate-related migration and forced displacement.
VI. Migration within and across regions
International migration often takes place within regions, facilitated by geographical proximity and by the close economic, social and cultural ties with shared borders or countries within the same region often enjoy. Yet there are differences between regions in the balance of intra-versus inter-regional migration. While nearly all international migrants born in Europe live in another European country, this is not the case for migrants born in Central and Southern Asia, in Latin America and the Caribbean, or in Northern America. The spatial distribution of transnational populations also varies, with some being highly concentrated in a small number of countries of destination and others dispersed across various countries and regions. Refugees and asylum seekers tend to cluster in neighbouring countries or in other countries of first asylum often located within the same region.
Preface
This report, International Migration and Sustainable Development, examines the linkages between international migration and the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. It is organized in four parts.
XIV. Gender equality and women’s empowerment
International migration and gender dynamics are intrinsically linked, with each of them affecting and being shaped by the other. Migration can increase women’s status, power and decisionmaking in society and contribute to promoting greater gender equality. However, migrant women can also face barriers that prevent them from taking part fully and equally in the social, political and economic life of host societies. In addition, they can be at high risk of suffering from exploitation, violence and abuse. Gender-responsive migration policies can address the specific needs of migrant women, reduce their vulnerability and promote their empowerment and inclusion.
V. Where do migrants come from?
The desire and ability to migrate are shaped by the context of people’s lives, by the resources available to them and by the barriers that they face. Spatial patterns of international migrant origins reflect these underlying asymmetries, which in turn are an expression of differences in levels of development within and among countries, among other factors. Most international migrants today come from middle-income countries and not from the world’s poorest countries. Among major regions, Europe still has the largest diaspora. In recent decades, however, the gap between Europe and other regions as a place of origin has narrowed, with numbers of persons living abroad rising more rapidly for some other regions than for Europe. For Latin America and the Caribbean, Northern Africa and Western Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, much of the recent increase in the size of their diaspora has been due to forced migration. Over the past decades, the number of countries from which migrants originate has grown. However, 41 per cent of all international migrants worldwide still hail from just 15 countries.
XII. Health and well-being
Migrants are often healthier than the rest of the population. Nevertheless, they may also face adverse circumstances resulting in negative health outcomes. Providing migrants with access to both essential and emergency healthcare is critical to upholding the pledge of the 2030 Agenda that no one will be left behind. International migrants make important contributions as doctors, nurses, other medical personnel and caregivers in many countries of destination. However, for countries of origin that face acute domestic shortages of qualified healthcare professionals, the emigration of such workers can undermine efforts to ensure universal access to healthcare. Promoting the return of healthcare workers, supporting their reintegration into the labour force and facilitating the recognition and utilization of their skills are example of measure that countries of origin can take to mitigate some of the negative impacts of the emigration of such workers.
VII. International migrants and their distribution by sex
Women and girls make up around half of all international migrants globally. Women and girls also comprise around half of all refugees and asylum seekers. At the global level in recent decades, the number of male migrants has grown more rapidly than has the number of female migrants, mainly as a result of the large influx of male migrant workers to Northern Africa and Western Asia. The transnational populations of some countries are predominantly female while others are predominantly male. These differences have important implications, including for the flow of remittances, for patterns of return migration and for the provision of care to older persons and children in countries of both origin and destination.
Acknowledgements
This report was prepared by Clare Menozzi of the Population Division.
II. International migration and sustainable development
International migration and development are intrinsically interlinked, with migration being both a response to, and a determinant of, development. Because international migration is a multidimensional phenomenon with important social and economic implications for societies of origin, transit and destination, it requires coordinated and coherent policy responses. International migrants are important agents of change, making positive contributions to sustainable development in communities of origin and destination. They are also, however, among the groups most vulnerable to being “left behind” and excluded from the benefits of development. International migration can support the achievement of many Goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
XVII. Urbanization and sustainable cities
In countries of origin of international migrants, persons often move to large urban centers within their own country before acquiring the resources and skills needed to migrate abroad. At destination, international migrants are often drawn by the economic opportunities and social or professional networks present in cities. In host societies, international migrants can contribute to urban renewal, revitalizing areas that had been abandoned by native-born populations. The economic and social contributions of international migrants can reinforce the status of cities as centres of innovation and creativity. Cities, however, can also amplify the vulnerability and inequality experienced by migrants. Recognizing the contributions and placespecific vulnerabilities of international migrants is critical for more effective urban planning and governance.
Introduction
La session 2020 du Dialogue international sur la migration (IDM) de l’OIM s’est tenue au Centre international de conférences Genève (Suisse) et en ligne. Elle portait sur le thème suivant : « Crise de la COVID-19 : Repenser la contribution des migrants et de la mobilité humaine à la réalisation des objectifs de développement durable ».
Background
Throughout history, migration has been one of the main forces connecting the world, driving cultural exchange, enriching societies, spurring growth and innovation, and saving lives.
Conclusion
This research provides a comprehensive overview of the intersection of child protection and migration, internally and across borders via irregular routes, with a particular focus on exploring potential links between child migration and trafficking in children in Ethiopia.
Background
Yemen’s landscape comprises a predominantly desert climate characterized by arid conditions. It is positioned at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula and has a surface area of approximately 527,970 square kilometres.
Recommendations
A complex interplay of environmental, economic and social factors drives Jordan’s climate changehuman mobility dynamics.
Acknowledgements
This scoping study was prepared by Al-Qaryouti Lubna and Erin K. McFee, PhD, consultants for IOM, with Rimjhim Agrawal as a contributing researcher, within the framework of the IOM project, “Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change, Environmental Degradation and Disaster Risks in Jordan.”
Introduction
This scoping study aims to explore the Jordanian context to understand how climate variables may tacitly impact internal and international migration patterns, and whether there is any direct relationship between climate change and migration patterns that could perhaps exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.
Acknowledgements
This research benefited from the cooperation of various organizations and individuals, and the research team would like to extend our deepest appreciation to all who contributed from the genesis of the assignment until the end.
Executive summary
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, characterized by its aridity, water scarcity, rapid urbanization, and vulnerability to climate change-induced natural hazards, faces significant challenges that directly impact human mobility. Existing conflicts further complicate these conditions.
Avant-propos
L’année 2020 a été particulièrement éprouvante. La pandémie de COVID-19 est une crise sanitaire aux conséquences socioéconomiques et humanitaires dévastatrices, qui varient d’une région à l’autre mais dont nul n’est épargné.