Corruption occurs in rich and poor countries alike — and is therefore a global concern. Yet evidence shows that it affects poor people disproportionately and helps turn fragile states into failed states. Ahead of International Anti-Corruption Day, marked every 9 December, I want to highlight the link between corruption and migration, which is all too often overlooked. On this day of anti-corruption, migration may not be the first topic that comes to mind. Yet with a humanitarian refugee cr...
This article is part of UNU’s COP21 series featuring commentary related to the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21), 30 November–11 December 2015 in Paris. ••• Millions of people worldwide are at risk for displacement resulting from sea level rise, slow-onset environmental degradation and increasing natural disasters. Although recent talks for a “climate change displacement coordination facility” captured little media ...
Global Entrepreneurship Week kicks off today, with contributions from more than 160 countries and countless organisations. This year’s event takes place amid a worldwide ‘refugee crisis’, prompting discussions at all levels. It is therefore the perfect time to look at what refugees can bring to host communities: especially entrepreneurial spirit, write PhD Fellows Katrin Marchand and Ortrun Merkle. We all have a mental imagine of what a classical entrepreneur is, someone who ha...
This informal and interactive session provided a brief overview of the migration trends in Central America and, specifically, the issue of unaccompanied migrant children from the Northern Triangle (Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala). The session presented some examples of current challenges faced by migration practitioners and provided a brief overview of what the Inter-American Development Bank and multilateral development banks do. ...
The war in Syria has forced tens of thousands to flee their homeland, many across the Turkish border. In turn, the EU and Turkey are holding urgent talks to channel these flows. Meanwhile migration looms large on the international agenda, in particular for the UN’s new Sustainable Development Goals and in general for international labour policies. Our researchers focused on all these issues at the Civil Society Days of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), held in Istanbul in mid...
In this seminar, Dr Ágnes Töttős shared some of the challenges in harmonising legal migration rules that she has identified during the negotiations in the relevant Working Party of the Council of the EU that she also chaired during the Hungarian Presidency. These included lengthy negotiation processes and specific challenges for Member States in working through complex legal problems, such as the dispute of using parallel national schemes, reforming provisions on intra-EU mobility, and ensuring ...
Tunisia, 2010: The self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi leads to protests and uprisings across the Arab world. Grassroots movements overthrow dictators, both peacefully and violently, but also pave the way for an Islamist-secular divide, conflicts and civil wars, and economic and political uncertainty. Yet the fires of the Arab Spring not only touch communities in the region: they also reach national communities living abroad – creating a new ‘diaspora consciousness’, writes PhD fello...
In early September 2015, the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade & Development Cooperation together with the State Secretary for Security & Justice sent a letter to their House of Representatives about the European asylum system. The letter, says Dr. Katie Kuschminder, proposes a new policy based around three points: 1) That asylum seekers should be processed by UNHCR within their region; 2) That asylum seekers who reach the Netherlands can be sent back to a ‘region of safety’; 3) That some...
Migration has been at the top of the political agenda all year. Yet the focus has too often been on curbing the flow of migrants, either with more aid or border controls. In this context, and drawing lessons from both East Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Katie Kuschminder was asked to present to the Dutch Government on migration issues and trends, particularly in Africa. See her summary, recommendations and video below. On 1 October 2015 I was invited by the Africa Group to give a talk...
The ‘refugee crisis’ has only troubled faces. The war and destruction in Syria and Iraq make people put their destinies in backpacks. They leave all their belongings behind and hope for a new future in a faraway country mostly only known from the illusions created by TV and movies. Imagine what would force you to take such a step. When would you pack? The other face is that of the new neighbours in the receiving country – mostly in low-cost housing and with modest or low incomes – who wake up in...