Chapter 28 - Psychosocial support for migrants and refugees: Similarities and differences in historic international Compacts

Abstract

Considering the rising numbers of migrants and refugees in the world and the psychosocial challenges they face, an historical change in their condition and protection is assured by the adoption of two international frameworks adopted by the United Nations in 2018. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration and the Global Compact on Refugees both address the rights of people on the move. This chapter gives the context for these agreements, definitions of the populations, pros and cons of movement, events held by psychologists and psychology students about these populations, and particpation of mental health experts, including the first author, in consultations during the Compacts draft process. It then focuses on the comparative mentions within the texts of psychological-related terms, for example, mental health, well-being, resilience, empowerment, psychosocial support and counseling, which governments agreed to insure and provide. These references were influenced by dedicated advocacy of psychology experts on the subject, whose efforts are also outlined. Recommendations are made to insure follow-up for the psychological health of these two populations.