Migration and Families
7 and 8 October 2014
International Conference Center Geneva (CICG)
17 rue de Varembé, Geneva, Switzerland
Background
The workshop on "Migration and Families” was held in the framework of IOM's International Dialogue on Migration (IDM) whose overall theme for 2014 is "Human Mobility and Development: Emerging Trends and New Opportunities for Partnerships ".
Consistent with IOM's mandate and Strategy Document (activity 7), the IDM provides a forum for IOM Member and Observer States, as well as international and non-governmental organizations and other partners, to share experiences and perspectives on migration matters with a view to identifying practical solutions and fostering greater cooperation.
Overview
Migration represents a means for an improved standard of living with significant development potential for migrants and their families, especially in the form of economic benefits. By the same token, the family traditionally holds a significant force for social cohesion and societal development in both countries of origin and destination. However, the reality of migration today poses also other serious challenges to families and their members. Challenges range from separation of members for long periods with members of the same family becoming transnational involving considerable psycho-social implications, to difficulties of integration in countries of destination and to changes in intra-family gender roles. These challenges are being exacerbated in the worldwide context of increasing labour mobility and restrictive migration policies. Children are increasingly affected by migration of families, by either being separated from their parents and remaining behind, migrating with their families or migrating alone. The youth are a category particularly impacted by migration in all the multiple roles inherent in the migration process: as members of families staying behind, as migrating alone and as migrating with their families. Evidence of the downsides of the migration of families on their members needs to be strengthened as does attention to policy.
The workshop focused on the migrant family and on the reality surrounding the phenomenon of family migration. It aimed to increase understanding of the differential and challenging impact of migration on families by examining the complex nature of effects linked to various forms of family migration on those who migrate, those who stay and those left behind (e.g. children, youth, spouses or parents). Moreover the workshop cast light on vulnerabilities and protection challenges, it discussed what comprehensive policy approaches exist to address development related migration challenges affecting families at home and abroad, and recommended new tools and policies to tackle this multifaceted issue. Finally, the workshop tried to advance dialogue and provided policy perspectives on youth migration and its impact on development.
Agenda
7 October 2014 - Day 1 |
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09:00 – 10:00 | Registration |
10:00 – 12:30 | Opening Session
Welcome remarks: William Lacy Swing, Director General, IOM (Statement) Keynote address: Ana María Baiardi Quesnel, Minister of Woman, Paraguay (Statement) |
SESSION I: : Understanding the reality of the migration of families in an era of the greatest human mobility | |
Moderator: William Lacy Swing, Director General, IOM Speakers:
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12:30 – 13:00 | Country Without Parents - Presentation of book and discussion |
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13:00 – 15:00 | Afternoon Break |
13:00 – 15:00 | SIDE EVENT: Strengthening international cooperation for the protection of children on the move |
15:00 - 16:30 | SESSION II: Conditions, challenges and rights-based responses to support families and children in the context of migration |
Moderator: Eleonore Kofman, Professor of Gender, Migration and Citizenship, Middlesex University, United Kingdom Speakers:
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16:30 – 18:00 | SESSION III: The role of family reunification in facilitating integration |
Moderator: William Lacy Swing, Director General, IOM Speakers:
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End of day 1 | |
8 October - Day 2 | |
10:00 – 12:00 | SESSION IV: The effects of migration on family members remaining at home, particularly the children and the elderly |
Moderator: Ambassador Marta Maurás Pérez, Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations and other international organizations and to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva Speakers:
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12:00 – 13:00 | MIGRANT’S VOICE SESSION |
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13:00 – 15:00 | Afternoon Break |
15:00 - 17:30 | SESSION V: The multiple role of youth in family migration |
Moderator: Natalia Popova, Senior Labour Economist, Labour Migration Branch (MIGRANT), International Labour Organization Speakers:
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17:30- 18:00 | Closing Session |
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End of workshop |