The UNESCO Programme on International Migration
The overall aim of UNESCO's programme on International Migration is to promote the respect for the human rights of migrants, and
to contribute to peaceful integration of migrants in society.
In order to fulfill this general goal, the programme wants to achieve the following five objectives:
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Increase the protection of human rights of migrants
Improve national policies to handle the impact of migration on society
Promote the value and respect of cultural diversity in multicultural societies
Contribute to the global fight against human trafficking
Strengthen the capacity, sustainability and effectiveness of diaspora networks
I.
Increase the protection of human rights of migrants
Migrants remain more vulnerable than other groups in society. In 1990, the UN General Assembly adopted the International
Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant workers and Members of their Families -the most comprehensive
international instrument to date to provide legal protection for migrants. On July 1st, 2003, the International Convention on the
Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families entered into force, after the threshold of 20 ratifying
states was reached in March 2003. So far, countries that have ratified the Convention are primarily countries of origin of migrants.
For these countries, the convention is an important vehicle to protect their citizens living abroad. No Western migrant-receiving
country has ratified the Convention, even though the majority of migrant workers (nearly 100 million out of a total of 175) live in
Europe and North America. Other important receiving countries, such as India, Japan, Australia and the Gulf States, have not
ratified the Convention either. UNESCO participates, with International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Labuor
Organization (ILO), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and several NGOs, in the Steering
Committee for the Global Campaign to co-ordinate activities to promote further accessions to the International Convention.
Strategy:
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contribute to improve policies of Member States, so they ratify the International Convention;
provide capacity-building to facilitate the implementation of the International Convention;
increase awareness of the International Convention among policy-makers, the media and the public.
II.
Improve national policies to handle the impact of migration on society
International migration is high on the public agenda of many countries because the phenomenon is considered a source of potential
economic, social, political and cultural problems. Politicians are explicitly or implicitly asked to formulate and implement policies to
avoid and resolve these problems. UNESCO can support research and provide training on migration policies to decision-makers
adding to prevent future policies from being based on ill-defined and misconceptions.
Strategy:
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strengthen the link between research and policy-making on migration issues;
contribute to advocacy and policy dialogue on migration issues;
stimulate innovative thinking on migration policies.
III.
Promote the value and respect of cultural diversity in multicultural societies
As a consequence of cross-border population flows many countries have a growing number of immigrant minority populations that
differ from the original population. The increase in xenophobia and racism calls for policies that respect the rights of migrants,
underscore the benefits of diversity and at the same time promote social cohesion. Current UNESCO' s initiatives promoting
pluralism, tolerance and cultural diversity includes the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic,
Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992) and the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity.
Strategy:
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promote a more balanced view of migrants;
contribute to better-informed policies concerning social cohesion and cultural diversity;
increase awareness on international instruments related to migration issues.
IV.
Contribute to the Global Fight against human trafficking and exploitative migration
Despite increased spending on enforcement measures, the number of migrants in an irregular situation has not declined. By
definition, trafficked persons are victims of serious human rights' violations. Further, smuggling and trafficking can undermine
security. The need to give special attention to trafficking in persons has been stressed both by the UN Special Rapporteur of the
Commission on Human Rights and by the Millennium Development Goals.
Strategy:
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improve information and knowledge on exploitative migration;
contribute to improve policies related to combating exploitative migration.
V.
Strengthen the capacity, sustainability and effectiveness of Diaspora networks as a means to
promote brain gain - as opposed to the current brain drain - through the use of ICT
The brain drain - the migration of skilled and educated human resources from developing to developed nations - affects developing
countries in their capacity for development. During the last two decades, the approach has come to discover the potential for brain
gain, which is based on the idea that the expatriate skilled population, if mobilised in diaspora networks, may be considered as a
potential asset instead of a definite loss.
The objective, then, is to create the links through which they could effectively and productively be connected to its development,
without any physical temporary or permanent return. This type of distant cooperative work is now possible as cases of international
research projects or multinational corporations’ (MNC) daily activities have already demonstrated clearly. Moreover, relationships
between expatriate intellectuals and their mother country have often existed in the past. What is new today, is that these sporadic,
exceptional and limited links may now become systematic, dense and multiple.
With the use of information and communication technologies (ICT), this trend can be reversed to brain gain - considering the
expatriate skilled population as a potential asset. By facilitating information exchange, technology transfer and business expansion
migration can bring new development dynamism and link the country of origin to the global economic system.
Strategy:
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contribute to the promotion of brain gain through the use of ICT;
develop mechanisms and effective tools to improve co-operation links and knowledge sharing;
strengthen Diaspora networks;
improve access to ICT for Diaspora population.
UNESCO-IOM Migration Museums Initiative
By means of this initiative, UNESCO and the IOM have decided to work together to promote exchange of information and
experiences on the history of immigration and the memories of migrants, notably through helping to set up and develop museums
in receiving countries. This kind of museum would, in particular, help collect, safeguard, highlight and make accessible to the
general public certain elements relating to the history and culture of immigration, and to the process of integration of migrant
communities. The current trend in the development of ‘migration museums’, named differently worldwide, is an interesting
phenomenon, as it may contribute to the creation of a new and multiple identity, at an individual and collective level.
19 receiving countries have already created Migration Museums. While these initiatives also serve the duty to remember, they seem
to have three main objectives: acknowledge, integrate and build awareness. Acknowledge: The contributions made by
migrants to their host societies; the diversity and wealth of the origin cultures and; the right to a dual-belonging. Include and
Integrate: Foster the sense of belonging; enable the communities to feel an integral part of the nation; find common ground and
contribute to a national identity. Build awareness and educate on the events that induced individuals - and refugees in
particular - to leave their land, thus developing empathy among the host population. More generally, deconstruct stereotypes on
immigration.
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