Societies and Identities: The Multifaceted Impact of Migration (2010)
International Conference Center Geneva (CICG)
17 rue de Varembé, Geneva, Switzerland
Background
The workshop on "Societies and Identities: The Multifaceted Impact of Migration" is being held in the framework of IOM's International Dialogue on Migration (IDM) which in 2010 has the overall theme of "Migration and Social Change".
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 is a catalyst for change and development - it has the potential to enrich not only the economies, but more importantly perhaps the culture and societies of both countries of origin and destination. For example, while financial remittances are now widely recognized as a product of migration, social remittances, including the transfer of ideas, behaviours, identities and social capital, have received much less attention. At the same time, migration transforms notions of national and personal identity and some societies struggle with the process of re-defining their collective identities and maintaining social cohesion in the face of increasing diversity. Lastly, migrants themselves may bring new ideas to their host countries; while at the same time some migrant communities may hold on to lifestyles and traditions they associate with their places of origin, even if those places have since changed. Such tensions need to be negotiated in daily social interaction.
This workshop will focus on migration as an impulse for socio-cultural transformations in both home and host countries. It will explore the policy implications presented by the complexities of migrant interactions with societies and specifically aims to:
- Bring together governments to exchange their experiences of and responses to the realities of social diversity in their respective societies and to identify effective practices for maximizing contributions of migrants in both home and host societies;
- Provide the IOM membership with the opportunity to discuss social consequences of migration, including pertinent issues such as managing perceptions of migrants and migration, effective advancement of national and sub-national integration policies, and mitigation of negative impacts on families;
- Exchange innovative ideas for multi-stakeholder partnerships at all stages of the migration process including strategies for building social capital and cohesion at the local level.
Agenda
| 19 July 2010 - Day I | |
| 09:00 - 10:00 | Registration |
| 10:00 - 10:10 |
Welcome Remarks
|
| 10:10 - 10:40 |
Keynote Address
|
| 10:40 - 11:00 |
Setting the Scene
|
| 11:00 - 13:00 |
Session I: Addressing the Complex Relationship Between Migrants and Societies Moderator: Anil Kumar Kokil, Assistant Director, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Mauritius Speakers:
General Discussion |
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Afternoon Break |
| 14:00 - 15:00 |
Side Event: Information Dissemination and Awareness Raising for Migrants and Receiving Communities Organized by IOM's Labour and Facilitated Migration (LFM) Department Speakers:
|
| 15:00 - 18:00 |
Session II: Managing Perceptions and Misperceptions of Migrants and Migration Moderator: Nicolás Marugán Zalba, Director, Spanish Observatory for Racism and Xenophobia, Ministry of Labour and Immigration, Spain (Bio) Speakers:
General Discussion |
| 20 July 2010 – Day II | |
| 10:00 - 12:30 |
Session III: Supporting Migrants and Their Families: Migrant Women, Youth and Family in the Wider Social Context Moderator: Philippe Boncour, Head, International Dialogue on Migration, IOM Speakers:
General Discussion |
| 12:30 - 13:00 |
Migrant's Voice
|
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Afternoon Break |
| 14:00 - 15:00 |
Side Event: The Role of Youth Organizations in Fostering Participation of Young Migrants Organized by the European Youth Forum Speakers:
|
| 15:00 - 17:50 |
Session IV: Enhancing Migrants' Contributions to Societies: Social Remittances and Other Impacts of Migration Moderator: Arnon Mantver, Chair of the Board of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Center for International Migration and Integration, Israel (Bio) Speakers:
General Discussion |
| 17:50 - 18:00 |
Wrap-up and Closing Remarks End of the Workshop |