International Organization For Migration Research Articles

Strengthening the Human Rights Guarantee System in the Management of Migrant Policies in Brazil

Objective: This study aimed to conduct a bibliographic survey of scientific productions that deal with migration governance throughout the national territory. Theoretical Framework: Supported by the theoretical and methodological assumptions of dialectical historical materialism, this article is part of the results of a post-doctoral internship that discusses the strengthening and defense of the rights of migrants in Brazil. Method: As a procedure for collecting this data, a time frame of research from the last ten years (2014-2024) was used. For this purpose, a survey of scientific production in Brazilian postgraduate programs indexed in the BDTD (Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations) was carried out. The analysis, in turn, was based on the ten dimensions of migration governance, developed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) adapted to the Brazilian context. Results and Discussion: The results revealed that although there is an effort by municipalities and states to try to strengthen the guarantee of rights to migrants, there are still gaps and difficulties in ensuring them. There is fragmentation in the provision of services to migrants and difficulties for sectoral policies to carry out integrated and cross-cutting actions. Few studies discuss the institutional structure of migration governance, that is, the strategic organization of public policies in order to strengthen the guarantee of the rights of migrants. Research Implications: The importance of this study lies in organizing and producing materials to support professionals who work to promote the human rights of migrants in the country. Originality/Value: Considering that the management of migration and migrant policies is still under construction, this research contributes to thinking about ways to ensure the rights of migrants through effective migration governance.

On climate migration and environmental safety

Abstract The article explores the growing trend of climate migration, driven by the increase of people displaced due to climate change, natural disasters, and environmental factors, as reported by the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration. The paper delves into the impact of climate change on migration, highlighting the primary causes and characteristics of climate migration. Furthermore the article discuses the potential for regulating climate migration through international law, emphasizing the urgent need to enhance resilience to the consequences of climate change, particularly in the context of countries’ efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Framing Migration as Adaptation: IOM’s Aspirations to Manage Climate Migration

ABSTRACT At the 2010 UNFCCC Conference in Cancún, migration as a consequence of climate change entered the Cancún Adaptation Framework. It did so in a specific way, being framed as an adaptation strategy to climate change. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) backed the framing of migration as an adaptation early on and pushed for its inclusion in Cancún. Through the analysis of 121 documents and six expert interviews, this article traces how IOM’s identity and interest shape how the organisation deploys the adaptation framing. Climate migration is traditionally situated beyond IOM’s mandate; however, the organisation was present in the institutional process through which the adaptation framing emerged and now carries out operational projects related to the topic. This article shows how IOM uses the adaptation framing to reassert its own aspiration to manage climate migration and assert itself as the dominant migration agency.

The role of inernational institutions of destination countries in the formation of Moldovan diaspora in the European Union

The following article analyzes the involvement of international organizations and EU states in the consolidation and development of the Moldovan diaspora in the European Union; the article also investigates the primary forms and mechanisms of stimulating these processes. The main international institutions participating in the implementation of programs and projects are the UN, the International Labor Organization, the International Organization for Migration, the OSCE, the ICMPD, and others. On a regional level Moldova is the participant of many specialized organizations and platforms in the field of migration: Eastern Partnership, FRONEX, EUBAM, Mobility Partnership, the Prague Process, the Budapest Process, the Söderköping Process, and others. Among the donors that provide Moldova with financial aid in the field of migration and diaspora are many EU states, the USA, and several other countries. The Moldovan government regulates the institutional framework and the mechanism of coordination of external aid provided by the international organizations and donor-countries. Moldova receives different kinds of financial, legal, and logistical aid from the EU for the regulation of migration, integration of migrants in the EU. The article lists European conventions that influenced the development of Moldovan policy in the field of migration and diaspora. Diasporas are viewed as agents of change. European institutions begin to focus in their policies on diasporas only starting with 2011. The EU insists on close collaboration between the diasporas and the countries of origin, considering that migrant integration is more effective by way of diasporas. It is necessary for civil society institutions to participate in the process of integration. Moldova adopts the positive practices of diaspora attraction, its support for the country’s sustainable development. Practice shows that it is necessary to make agreements not only in the field of labor migration and social protection, but also in the field of labor migrants’ legal protection. The increasing role of the diaspora is tied to the deepening collaboration with the civil society of the destination countries, the participation of labor migrants in the destination countries’ political life. It is important for every level of administration participate in the development and implementation of strategies for migrant integration.

Legal Framework and International Cooperation in Combatting Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a pervasive global issue violating fundamental human rights and affecting millions annually across borders. Efforts to combat it involve intricate legal frameworks and international collaboration mechanisms. This research delves into the effectiveness and hurdles of these approaches. It begins with an overview of national and international legal structures. Various instruments, treaties, and protocols criminalizing trafficking and protecting victims are explored, with emphasis on the United Nation's Palermo Protocol. Furthermore, the study scrutinizes mechanisms fostering international cooperation. This includes bilateral and multilateral agreements, legal assistance, extradition treaties, and information-sharing networks. Organizations like United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and International Organization for Migration (IOM) play crucial roles in facilitating cooperation and providing support. However, despite progress, challenges persist. Inconsistent implementation of laws, insufficient resources for enforcement and victim support, jurisdictional complexities, and corruption hinder effectiveness. Addressing these issues demands sustained commitment, resource allocation, and cross-border collaboration to protect the vulnerable and hold perpetrators accountable.

SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF REFUGEES IN TÜRKİYE: A FIELD OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN TURKISH RED CRESCENT AND THE EU

Türkiye has been hosting approximately 6 million migrants according to the World Migration Report published by the International Organization for Migration in 2022. To manage the migration flows, the EU has provided financial assistance to Turkish civil society organizations working on the integration of migrants. One of those organizations has been the Turkish Red Crescent. The migration literature criticizes the externalization approach of the EU and the instrumentalization approach of Türkiye in the 2000s. However, this paper focuses on the good practices of those actors and argues that the EU-Turkish Red Crescent collaboration has directly served the social integration of refugees. The migration-related programs and activities of the Turkish Red Crescent let the religious and cultural similarities between the societies positively contribute to the integration. It is concluded in the paper that collaborative actions among the regional actors, state, and civil society to overcome problems between refugees and the host community and contribute to producing a peaceful environment for social integration.

Stop, in the Name of COVID! Using Social Media Data to Estimate the Effects of COVID-19-Related Travel Restrictions on Migration

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Organization for Migration has postulated that international migrant stocks fell short of their pre-pandemic projections by nearly 2 million as a result of travel restrictions. However, this decline is not testable with migration data from traditional sources. Key migration stakeholders have called for using data from alternative sources, including social media, to fill these gaps. Building on previous work using social media data to analyze migration responses to external shocks, we test the hypothesis that COVID-related travel restrictions reduced migrant stock relative to expected migration without such restrictions using estimates of migrants drawn from Facebook's advertising platform and dynamic panel models. We focus on four key origin countries in North and West Africa (Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, Morocco, and Senegal) and on their 23 key destination countries. Between February and June 2020, we estimate that a destination country implementing a month-long total entry ban on arrivals from Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, Morocco, or Senegal might have expected a 3.39% reduction in migrant stock from the restricted country compared with the counterfactual in which no travel restrictions were implemented. However, when broader societal disruptions of the pandemic are accounted for, we estimate that countries implementing travel restrictions might paradoxically have expected an increase in migrant stock. In this context, travel restrictions do not appear to have effectively curbed migration and could have resulted in outcomes opposite their intended effects.

ISSUES OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS: A BRIEF RESPONSE OF INDIA

The astounding numbers of 47 million new internal displacements tell a harrowing tale as the planet grapples with conflicts and disasters," stated Ugochi Daniels, deputy director general of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). "This report is a stark reminder of the urgent and coordinated need to expand disaster risk reduction, support peacebuilding, ensure the protection of human rights and whenever possible, prevent the displacement before it happens.

Risk Management and Consequence Management of Internal Migration in the Context of Humanitarian and Economic Challenges (Experience of Zakarpattia Oblast)

This article focuses on the study of Ukraine’s experience, particularly in Zakarpattia oblast, to identify and characterize key consequences of forced internal migration on regional economies and the social sphere of regions and communities. The empirical basis of the research includes (a) the results of a sociological survey conducted in Zakarpattia oblast in November 2022, (b) data from regional statistics on the socio-economic situation in Zakarpattia oblast and (c) data from international organizations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) regarding population migration. It is worth noting that the article was written in June 2023, and therefore all the information presented, including statistical data, is relevant as of the time of writing. The article proposes a series of suggestions for harnessing the potential of internally displaced persons to stimulate regional economic development, which is one of the factors contributing to national resilience. The article provides guidance on managing the consequences of internal migration in the face of challenges, outlining major trends and recommendations that can be utilized as a roadmap during times of martial law or other potential emergencies, such as natural disasters, technological catastrophes, etc. The article is intended not only for the scientific and expert community but also for government officials (both in Ukraine and partner countries), local council members, civil activists and volunteers.

The racial biopolitics of humanitarianism in Africa: examining European resilience-building in the Sahel and lake Chad Basin

The racial biopolitics of humanitarianism in Africa: examining European resilience-building in the Sahel and lake Chad Basin

‘We’re an Organization that Does Stuff’: The International Organization for Migration, Logistics and Expert Authority in Migration Governance

ABSTRACT This article advances accounts of expertise as a source of power in migration governance by examining how the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has cultivated authority as a logistical expert. Analyses of expert authority in global governance have traditionally focused on the production and control of information, particularly research and data. In contrast, this study demonstrates that logistical expertise was pivotal to the organisation’s early successes and long-term survival, and shows how logistical prowess and values associated with the logistical frame – such as efficiency and flexibility – have underpinned IOM’s expansion in significant ways. Drawing on extensive archival research and in-depth interviews, the article traces how IOM’s logistical operations have diversified over time, from interventions explicitly intended to facilitate the movement of (selected) migrants to a contemporary focus on a much wider range of activities such as humanitarian aid, returns, and data collection, that apply logistical techniques to manage or control mobility. The contribution is two-fold. First, the article advances understanding of IOM as an increasingly influential player in global migration governance by offering a concertedly historicised perspective focused on its logistical activities and identity. Second, by bringing scholarship on expertise and critical logistics into conversation, this work illuminates how logistics functions as a form of expertise, and demonstrates the power, risks and limitations of logistics as a source of expert authority in migration governance.

The ‘Datafication’ of Borders in Global Context: The Role of the International Organization for Migration

ABSTRACT This article examines the transnational politics of datafication in migration management through a case study of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Datafication, such as the automation of border processes, the use of biometrics and the deployment of large-scale statistical techniques, is increasingly central to the management of migration. Much of the current focus on these processes for migration management is focused on state-level policies or on supranational institutions such as the EU. There is relatively little work on the role of international organisations in this area, despite their well-researched role in setting formal standards and informal expectations around migration and mobility. The article’s first main argument is that focusing on the global level of governance yields new insights on the promotion and diffusion of data-intensive practices of migration management. The second argument is that the emerging global context of datafication around border management fits into a broader managerial agenda in which international organisations seize agenda-setting power and act as transmission mechanisms for datafication projects and ideas. The third portion of the argument is that the IOM’s projects in this area reinforce its role as a service provider and consolidate its emerging role as an orchestrator of data-driven approaches to migration governance. The article thus contributes to ongoing work on the IOM’s shifting identity as well as interdisciplinary scholarship on the role of data in migration management.

The International Organization for Migration: The New ‘UN Migration Agency’ in Critical Perspective.

Hoy en día, la migración global es una problemática grave y compleja en los ámbitos nacional e internacional. El libro “The International Organization for Migration. The New ‘UN Migration Agency’ in Critical Perspective”, editado por Martin Geiger y Antoine Pécoud, académicos con una amplia trayectoria de investigación en los temas de migración, se centra en el estudio de la Organización Internacional para las Migraciones (OIM), organización intergubernamental creada en 1951 e incorporada al sistema de las Naciones Unidas en 2016.

COVID-19 preventive measures in Rohingya refugee camps: An assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice.

Although many studies were conducted on COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among the general population in many countries, very little is known about refugees, particularly Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar. A vast array of risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) interventions were implemented in Cox's Bazar with the intent of reducing disease transmission by empowering the community to adopt public health measures. The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of COVID-19 preventive measures among the Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar, and to identify their socio-demographic determinants. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 500 Rohingya individuals. Participants in the study were Rohingya refugees residing in five randomly selected camps where International Organization for Migration (IOM) Health was operating. Using a structured questionnaire, skilled community health workers surveyed the Rohingya population. In addition to the survey on knowledge, attitude, and practice, the study gathered information on the perspectives and relevance of sociodemographic factors that influence KAP. The study findings indicate that the mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 9.93, 7.55, and 2.71 respectively. Association was found between knowledge and practice level and age group-the elderly age group (>/ = 61 years) had less level of knowledge (AOR 0.42, P value = 0.058) and the late mid-age group (46-60 years) had better practice level (AOR 2.67, P value <0.001). Our study found that the Rohingya refugee community in Cox's Bazar has improved knowledge and attitude toward COVID-19 preventive measures. However, the practice level of these measures remains low compared to the knowledge and positive attitude. The reason behind the poor practice of preventive measures needs to be identified and addressed engaging the community in similar future outbreaks.

Demographic Sustainability of Ukraine and Its Changes Caused by the Russian-Ukrainian War

The article’s main tasks include analyzing changes in the main parameters of Ukraine’s demographic sustainability before the current full-scale war (1989–2021) and assessing the quantitative, structural, and territorial demographic changes caused by it. The databases of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine and the International Organization for Migration, official reports of the Ukrainian Government, and expert data are the primary sources of demographic statistics. I used the index analysis tools to study changes in the reproductive and age-sex balances in Ukraine and its regions. Since the mid-1990s, Ukraine has been experiencing a deepening demographic reproduction crisis, manifested in a large-scale population decline and a deterioration in age and gender balance. Using the cluster analysis method, the demographic zoning of Ukraine is carried out. Russia’s full-scale invasion has catastrophically weakened Ukraine’s demographic sustainability. As a result of the war, tens of thousands of Ukrainian citizens died, and millions migrated, which deepened significant deformations in the sex and age structure of the population. The obtained results can be used to develop social and demographic policy measures. The study’s limitations are related to the lack of reliable migration data.

A “Migrantisation” of Borderwork? Emergence, Work Status, and Careers of Peer Intermediaries in Morocco’s Migration Industry: The Case of Voluntary Returns

This paper explores the idea of a “migrantisation” of borderwork through the case of peer intermediation in the provision of information to migrants regarding voluntary returns from Morocco. Under what conditions are people categorised as sub-Saharan migrants being employed in projects led by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM)? What are the trajectories, careers, and work status of these peer intermediaries? To what extent does peer intermediation shape social relationships and boundaries within the migration industry and migrant communities? Using ethnographic data and documentary sources collected during fieldwork in Morocco, the paper traces the emergence of peer intermediation and underlines its diversity through the in-depth study of three illustrative trajectories. It examines “migrantisation” in relation to issues of racialisation, work, and im/mobility.

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Combating against irregular and illegal migration in the state management of migration of the Republic of Armenia has always been emphasized, focusing heavily on the reduction of irregular migration originating from Armenia, the requirement to execute the issue to study such phenomenon and make suggestions for its prevention was included in the list of priority issues. The inclusion of the issues regarding irregular migration in the list of priority issues hereby proves the importance of combating against this phenomenon for our State and society. In order to implement this problem, a number of measures promoting legal migration were implemented in Armenia, and in 2014 the organization of illegal migration was criminalized which is considered a criminal offense under the Criminal Codes of most States, especially when along with the increase in immigration flows in Armenia, the risks of illegal and irregular influx, residence and work of foreigners have also increased. This article will refer to the legal grounds for traveling to another country, the existing legislative regulations in the Republic of Armenia in this regard, a number of concepts related to illegal migration, the definitions given by the International Organization for Migration, the grounds of the migrant’s criminal responsibility, the legal assessments given to the migrant’s acts in law enforcement practice, the existing measures aimed at achieving the latter’s criminal responsibility and etc. As a result, the author proposed a new solution among the currently implemented ones regarding the legal assessment of the migrant’s act.

Imperialism and labour: why global migration governance is unnecessary and why it works

In West Africa, the Maghreb and elsewhere, regular livelihoods and patterns of circulation have been uprooted, while migrants are terrorised by state policies in Africa and Europe. Global migration governance is apparently failing to encourage ‘safe, orderly and regular migration’ despite its rhetoric of human rights, African integration, free circulation and policy harmonisation. This article compares migration governance with structural adjustment in order to evaluate and expose the impact of its hegemonic policy frameworks. A political economy analysis of the historical formation of global migration governance and its current policies in Africa shows how European states and the USA contribute to the imperialist redivision of territories, the continued polarisation of wealth and destruction of the productive forces in African societies, both directly and via organisations like the International Organization for Migration. As they organise and regulate labour within and beyond their borders, these states reproduce social hierarchies and structures of exploitation in the service of capital. This contradiction of capitalist imperialism with the policy goals of global governance demands a radical approach to migrant solidarity which centres on an internationalist class response and continued pressure for justice in the international system.

Examining the Demographic, Socio-cultural, and Economic Dimensions of In-migrant Construction Workers: A Case Study on Internal Migration Trends, Working Conditions, and Quality of Life

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the United Nations, the global scenario for the number of international migrants increased to 281 million in 2020, meaning that 3.6% of the world's population lived outside their country of birth in that year. The objective of the study demographic condition of the internal migration population, working conditions of in migrant construction workers, inmigrant construction workers socio culture condition, psychological condition, the consequences and problems faced unorganized migrant construction workers. The research study adopted Descriptive Research design for the present study because the primary of the study is to attain information concerning the existing status of quality of life of migrant construction workers. The researcher moved to another location with the reference of previous contact, in the way, snowball sampling method was used to access the required number of population. It was noted that the majority of the construction workers were semi-skilled and were illiterate. Most of the respondents spoke Hindi as their major language, 38 percent of them spoke Oriya. The workers are said to be receiving monthly wages and the majority of them have a monthly income of up to Rs.10,000 on a average. It was identified that construction workers migrated from other states at 19 to 25 years. Temporary migrants migrating with their families are found to be higher. Among the migrant construction workers within the age group of 26 to 35 years migrate more than others. Sizeable size 94 percent of the respondents belong to the male category, most of the people working as a construction labourers are married. Among the in-migrant construction workers, migrants from Odisha are more in number, followed by people from West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and other states. The Hindu community is dominated in number compared to Muslim and Christian community.

Internal Migration: An Analysis of Associated Risks and Vulnerabilities of Women and Youth in KwaZulu-Natal

The abolition of the apartheid regime and the democratic process of 1994 led to the freedom of movement within South Africa. According to data, KwaZulu-Natal Province has had the second-highest rate of migration since 2000. The labour market and the provision of services are significantly impacted by these migration patterns. This paper analyses the migration patterns of women and youth in KwaZulu-Natal Province, as it examines the associated risks and vulnerabilities. The primary data for the study was obtained from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development and International Organization for Migration, unpublished report based on research it commissioned in 2014. The target population of this study comprises women and youth between the ages of 15-39 years old from all 11 districts of KwaZulu-Natal as they are more likely to migrate. Multi-stage sampling was used to select the clusters, households and ultimately the individuals to be surveyed. A cross-sectional survey of 1783 respondents were selected from various households in KwaZulu-Natal. Findings indicated that most of the women and young people who migrated did so for economic reasons. Findings also indicated that the migrants were exposed to health risks, gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, contracting and spreading the human immunodeficiency virus as well as exposure to danger to life and property. The paper contributes to a deeper understanding of migration patterns and their implications within the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The theoretical framework guiding this study is the "Push and Pull theory", which helps to elucidate the factors motivating and influencing migration decisions among young people in the region.