IMMIGRANTS NEED CITIZENSHIP – THE ROLE OF ALMADA MUNDO ASSOCIATION

Abstract

Migration is a human right enshrined in article 13 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, which reads “every human being has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to it” (UN, 1948). The positive effects of migration have recently been highlighted, both for the countries of origin and destination, as well as for the migrants themselves. In 2005, migration was named the central challenge of the century by the United Nations Global Commission on International Migration and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (UN, 2015a). All signatory countries must empower vulnerable groups, recognize the positive contribution of migrants to sustainable growth and inclusive development. In turn, the European Union, in the European Consensus for Development (2017), aligned with that imposing to “Member States to promote dignity and resilience of displaced people and their inclusion in the economic and social life of host countries and communities”. Portugal has already committed itself to developing suitable policies for the social integration of the immigrant community, with a focus on culture and language, education and employment, and professional qualification, as stated in the Council of Ministers Resolution No. 12-B/2015. Despite all of the laws in place, the Almada Mundo Association's experience suggests that few people will be able to meet the international and national goals on a local level. In this article, we highlight the constraints being still faced by immigrants residing in Almada accessing citizenship, through the content analysis of their testimonies, taken through semi-structured interviews.