A virtual panel discussion on the GCM Objective 7: “Address and Reduce Vulnerabilities in Migration” was held on 13th October 2020,hosted by Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism [GRFDT], Migrant Forum in Asia, Cross-Regional Centre for Refugees and Migrants (CCRM) and Civil Society Action Committee.
Migrants Highly Vulnerable to Health Risks
Dr. Patrick Duigan, the Regional Migration Health Advisor at IOM, highlighted the increased health related vulnerabilities as a key concern, since unlike regular citizens, the migrant workers were at much higher risks of COVID-19 infections, considering the fact that they are staying in crowded, unhygienic living conditions with lack of water and sanitation facilities and diminished access to health services.
“Because of lack of access to services, because of language barriers, cultural barriers, because of stigma and discrimination, because of either unintentional or intentional exclusion from health care services, financial barriers and other different factors, migrants have a disproportionate vulnerability”: Dr. Patrick Duigan
Dr. Duigan warned that “if migrants are not included in the COVID-19 response process and if their vulnerabilities are not addressed, then no one is safe until everyone is safe”, and concluded his address by stating that public health of society at large shall improve if these vulnerabilities are addressed.
Increased Vulnerability Due to Government Inaction
Mr. Ignacio Packer, the Executive Director at International Council of Voluntary Agencies, divided the crises relating to vulnerabilities faced by a migrant into 3:the health crisis, socio-economic crisis and protection crisis.
“Apart from the vulnerability of the migrants owing to their conditions, there were also vulnerabilities created by the state authorities themselves”: Mr. Ignacio Packer.
While acknowledging that some destination states have addressed the legal and practical impediments linked to work abuse and irregular migration, Mr. Packer lamented that the vulnerable situation of the migrants has only increased, especially for the irregular migrants and particularly those working in the informal economy. Mr. Packer further reaffirmed the prevalence of gender-based violence amongst the vulnerable groups, internally displaced people, and asylum seekers as being the greatest concern today.
Women – the Most Vulnerable of Migrants
Ms. Ellene A. Sana, the Executive Director at Center for Migrant Advocacy, Philippines, began her address by stating that even before COVID-19, migrants were considered a vulnerable group.
“While their (migrant workers) human and labor rights remain intact, the laws and policies that express them are not always present”: Ms. Ellene A. Sana.
Further Ms. Sana mentioned that even if the policies exist, the effective implementation of these policies remain a challenge.
Talking specifically about Philippines, Ms. Sana indicated that 56% of migrant workers were women as per ILO reports of 2019, with 62.5 percent employed as domestic workers. Owing to the nature of their work, these women were the most vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, especially in COVID-19 times. Despite the measures and initiatives taken at all stages to aid women migrant workers, Ms. Sana stated that women domestic workers are still vulnerable to abuse, due to the following reasons:
- Gaps in information for women migrants in rural areas
- Gaps in accessibility to programs and services for women workers.
- Gaps in coordination between services providers.
Ms. Sana concluded by stressing on the challenge to develop and offer more job options for women –
“The main challenge is how society, in general, regards women and women’s work. Women have agencies and capacities just as any other beings; household work must not only be the domain of the women but by all members of the household”: Ms. Ellene A. Sana
Child Migration Issues – Not Addressed Enough
Ms. Irene de Lorenzo-Careres Cantero, an Advocacy and Policy Specialist (Child Migration), at UNICEF, began her address by questioning what puts migrant children at risk, and answered the same by regretting that it is nothing but discrimination because of which the child ends up under national authorities monitoring migrants and not under child protection authorities.
Ms. Irene highlighted that while 2 sections of GCM’s Objective 7 address children issues, sections A, H and I, do not mention children and stated that the discrimination faced by migrant children calls for reviewing policies addressing vulnerabilities and for establishing pathways for migrant children to attain regular status.
Ms. Irene suggested four priorities that need to be addressed and acted upon, viz:
- Ending child immigration detention
- Promoting child sensitive return and integration
- Inclusion of child migrants into the national and local system
- Strengthening of child protection acts across the border.
On the role of UNICEF, Ms. Irene stressed that UNICEF is keen on collaborating with local players like youth groups and child rights activists in formulating actions to address the vulnerabilities of child migrants in the respective countries.
Migrants Camped at the Lampedusa Island, Italy
Ms. Sandra Federici, the Director at Africa e-Mediterraneo, spoke on the topic from the point of view of migrants camped at the Lampedusa Island in the southern most territory of Italy. Ms. Federici highlighted that the project she and her team were working on, had developed two kinds of responses – first is ensuring communication on and sensitization of the migrant’s issues, and second involves the collection and communication of relevant information through their website aptly titled “ Snapshots From the Borders.”
Ms. Federici insisted on the support from central governments and the European constitution to ensure the welcome of migrants into the communities. This is particularly important as thousands of migrants land up every year at border cities like Lampedusa.
Ms. Federici lamented that vulnerabilities amongst these migrants are seen too often and are produced by the dangerous and traumatic voyages that they undertake. The vulnerability is further exacerbated by prolonged stay in the border regions.
“Irregular migration creates vulnerability. We (irregular migrants at borders) see violation, violence, inhuman treatment, injuries, diseases, slavery and death”: Ms. Sandra Federici
The Red Cross Way to Solve Migrant Issues
Ms. Helen Brunt, the Senior Regional Migration & Displacement Officer at IFRC, put the subject in perspective by stating that their advocacy focused on humanitarian priorities, with emphasis on ensuring the protection of migrants and refuges throughout their migratory experience, especially from violence, abuse and other forms of vulnerabilities.
Mr. Brunt stressed on the need for migrants, irrespective of their legal status, to have effective access to social services and humanitarian assistance. The rights and needs of children must be prioritized and detention must be the last resort in handling with migrant children. Ms. Brunt further appreciated the recognition of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement as a key stakeholder in Paragraph 44 of the GCM, and urged partnership from States.
There is the need for a robust understanding of vulnerability and its risks, particularly in disaster and crisis, and many national societies are already co-operating with local authorities to help identify and understand the vulnerabilities and risks faced by migrants, as pointed out by Ms. Brunt. This becomes even more important with the advent of COVID-19 and the consequent increase in the negative narratives towards non-citizens, migrants and refugees.
Ms. Brunt noted that ensuring all people have access to services will help address vulnerability and dwelt on how Red Cross advocates for the necessity of “humanitarian service points”, i.e. safe and protection spaces to ensure a firewall between authorities and service providers to enable migrants to have safe and affective access to the humanitarian services that they need.
“There are areas of improvement and gaps. The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movements and all other stakeholders must also coordinate to address humanitarian needs of migrants.”: Ms. Helen Brunt
The webinar concluded with the panelists agreeing on the immediacy of addressing these vulnerabilities, especially in the backdrop of COVID-19, which has exacerbated the vulnerabilities of migrant workers.
Megha Rangaraj, the Writer is an under graduate student with Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, Pune, India. She is an avid advocate for the emancipation of women and passionate about social issues. She can be found on twitter handle @MeghaRangaraj