meeting the humanitarian needs of vulnerable migrants

www.ifrc.orgSaving lives, changing minds.

summary

Meeting the humanitarian needs of vulnerable migrantsFocus on the Mediterranean and neighbouring regions

Farah and her parents are from Iraq. Each day they come to wait at the police station to fi nd if their registration process is complete.

BackgroundInternational migration looks set to contin-ue to increase in the short- and medium-term. It is a truly global phenomenon. In the new wave of global migration, the great majority of migrants are showing extraordinary resilience and courage as they make dangerous and diffi cult jour-neys to reach safety and adapt to new environments. In the last decades, faced with limited opportunities for safe and regular migration, migrants often rely on the services of smugglers and embark on dangerous sea and land voyages to make unauthorized border crossings. Equally, many host communities show great tol-erance and are accommodating as they cope with considerable change.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the Movement) has a long standing commitment to work with governments, host populations and migrant communities to meet the hu-manitarian needs of vulnerable migrants. This commitment was formally elaborat-ed in the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC) Migration Policy in 2009 and recalled by States in Resolution 3 adopted at the 31st

IFRC-case summary-proof5.indd 1 11/09/2015 10:06

2International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Summary Meeting the Humanitarian Needs of Vulnerable Migrants

International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in 2011. This Resolution in turn responded to an earlier Declaration adopted by the 30th Confer-ence, Together for Humanity, which noted “the importance of examining ways and means to reinforce international coopera-tion at all levels to address the humani-tarian concerns generated by internation-al migration.”

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of casualties of mi-grants moving from Africa and the Middle

East as they attempt to reach and cross the Mediterranean. In 2014, more than 3,400 people are estimated to have died attempt-ing to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Dur-ing the first seven months of 2015, more than 2,000 people have lost their lives in the Mediterranean Basin trying to reach Europe from North Africa and Turkey. This situation has led the IFRC to mobilize a Migration Coordination Cell to develop a new Response Plan, with the contribution of the ICRC, which adapts existing instru-ments and operational capacities towards

a global coordinated approach.

On arrival in Serbia from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, people on the move register with the authorities in Persevo. Stephen Ryan/IFRC




A response plan with a global callThis Response Plan, with its initial empha-sis on the Mediterranean region, outlines concrete measures being undertaken to respond to current migration challenges while adhering to the aforementioned Declaration and Resolution on migration. This new Response Plan identifies specific humanitarian strategies, activities and partnerships that are being developed across the Movement and which will form the basis of a common and coordinated Movement approach to the protection and assistance of vulnerable migrants in the years ahead, while equally taking into account the roles and mandates of other institutions and organizations assisting and protecting migrants.

The overall goal is to enhance the Move-ment’s response in terms of assistance, protection, non-discrimination and pub-lic awareness and promotion of respect for diversity, non-violence and social cohesion. The overarching approach will aim to reduce the vulnerability of mi-grants through a coordinated and trans-regional support to migrants along the length of their migratory routes. It also aims to strengthen and better coordinate advocacy efforts towards governments, corporate sector, partners and other or-ganizations to engage with the Red Cross Red Crescent network and deploy all ef-forts in the protection of migrants.

The scope of this Plan is to respond to the humanitarian and protection needs of migrants and their families around and en route to the Mediterranean, with the aim of replicating this approach globally.

While each region and country will iden-tify and develop a modified approach that reflects their specific social, policy and humanitarian context, the Movement will work with decision-makers, in accor-dance with its Fundamental Principles, to ensure an increased understanding of the drivers and vulnerability of migrants

Definition of migrants

According to the IFRC Migration Policy, “in order to capture the full extent of humanitarian concerns related to migration, our description of migrants is deliberately broad: migrants are persons who leave or flee their habitual residence to go to new places – usually abroad – to seek opportunities or safer and better prospects. Migration can be voluntary or involuntary, but most of the time a combination of choices and constraints are involved. Thus, this policy includes, among others, labour migrants, stateless migrants, and migrants deemed irregular by public authorities. It also concerns refugees and asylum seekers, notwithstanding the fact that they constitute a special category under international law.”

IFRC Migration Policy

Principle 1 : Focus on the needs and vulnerabilities of migrantsPrinciple 2 : Include migrants in humanitarian programmingPrinciple 3 : Support the aspirations of migrants Principle 4 : Recognize the rights of migrants Principle 5 : Link assistance, protection and humanitarian advocacy for migrantsPrinciple 6 : Build partnerships for migrants Principle 7 : Work along the migratory trails Principle 8 : Assist migrants in returnPrinciple 9 : Respond to the displacement of populationsPrinciple 10: Alleviate the migratory pressures on communities of origin

and urges a set of actions amongst all appropriate government institutions and origin, transit and host communities.

At this time of demographic change and policy uncertainty around migration, the Movement seeks to reaffirm the Funda-mental Principle of humanity as it works with vulnerable migrants of all kinds. In doing so, we seek the support of States and the general public to ensure that vulnerable migrants are given assistance and protection so they can live in dignity while their future is determined by their own initiative, by law and by States.




Working together with governments and the publicThe Movement and its new Response Plan cannot succeed without the support and participation of concerned States and the general public. This is the purpose of the Global Call that we are launching along-side this Plan.

The Movement will need to work with national and local decision-makers, in accordance with its Fundamental Prin-ciples, to ensure increased understand-ing of migrant vulnerability and migrant value, and to gather support for the Move-ment’s humanitarian role.

To this end, we have a number of more specific “asks” which make up our Global Call. These more detailed asks are for gov-ernments and communities. If they are answered positively, the Movement will be able to meet the humanitarian needs of vulnerable migrants all around the world much more easily.

We are asking governments

• To review policy, legal frameworks and services to ensure the rights and digni-ty of all migrants irrespective of their legal status are protected.

• To communicate publicly the govern-ment’s commitment to ensure the dig-nity and rights of all migrants.

• To develop a plan with civil society ac-tors, such as the Red Cross or Red Cres-cent in respective countries, to protect the dignity and ensure the safety of all migrants irrespective of their legal status.

• To promote respect for diversity, non-violence and social inclusion through public campaigns and local services.

• To ensure appropriate laws and pro-cedures are in place for National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to have unfettered access to all migrants irrespective of their legal status.

• To ensure that opportunities for legal and safe migration that preserve the dignity and rights of all migrants enter-ing a given country are identified. These may include opportunities for employ-ment, support for family reunification and access to international protection.

• To provide support for programmes that deliver assistance, protection and raise awareness among migrants of their options and services.

• To avoid labelling migrants as ‘illegal.’ We are asking host communities

• To participate in the Red Cross Red Cres-cent global campaign to raise aware-ness and sensitivity toward migrants.

• To engage in a global call to stop indif-ference about the plight of people on the move, recognizing a universal re-sponsibility to protect humanity.

• To develop local services and pro-grammes that promote inclusion and respect for migrants.

• To promote tolerance, diversity and integration in particular by exploring possibilities to support more migrant friendly public perceptions and media reporting in countries of transit and destination in particular.




Th

e fo

llow

ing

pro

vid

es a

n

over

view

of

th

e sc

alin

g-u

p

of t

he

Mov

emen

t’s

resp

onse

to

the

incr

easi

ng

vuln

erab

ilit

ies

of

mig

ran

ts. T

his

Pla

n

wil

l b

e ex

ten

ded

to

incl

ud

e th

e an

alys

is

of o

ther

reg

ion

al

con

text

s an

d w

ill,

as s

uch

, gu

ide

the

dev

elop

men

t of

a

futu

re g

lob

al

stra

tegy

aim

ed

at e

nh

anci

ng

a co

ord

inat

ed

Mov

emen

t ap

pro

ach

. T

he

glob

al a

nd

tr

ans-

regi

onal

ap

pro

ach

tak

es

into

con

sid

erat

ion

co

un

trie

s of

d

epar

ture

, tra

nsi

t an

d d

esti

nat

ion

.

Pro

tecti

on

Ass

ista

nce

Public

aw

are

ness

and

pro

moti

on o

f re

spect

for

div

ers

ity,

non-v

iole

nce

and s

ocia

l cohesi

on

IFR

C c

oord

inati

on

Pro

mot

e an

d pr

otec

t mig

rant

s’

right

s, in

par

ticul

ar a

long

m

igra

tory

rout

es.

Mon

itor

and

prov

ide

hum

a-ni

taria

n ai

d in

det

entio

n pl

aces

and

rece

ptio

n ce

nter

s.

Pro

mot

e in

tegr

atio

n of

mig

rant

s,

incl

udin

g re

turn

ees.

Impr

ove

coor

dina

tion

amon

g pa

rtne

rs, p

artic

ular

ly m

onito

ring

and

repo

rtin

g.

Wor

k in

imm

igra

tion

dete

ntio

n (IC

RC

alo

ne o

r in

col

labo

ratio

n w

ith N

atio

nal S

ocie

ties)

.

Pro

vide

ser

vice

s to

un

acco

mpa

nied

min

ors.

Faci

litat

e ap

plic

atio

n of

refu

gees

, as

ylum

see

kers

and

mig

rant

s’ ri

ghts

.S

uppo

rt N

atio

nal S

ocie

ties

in

leve

ragi

ng th

eir

auxi

liary

role

and

in

fluen

cing

pol

icy

deve

lopm

ents

.

Pro

vide

orie

ntat

ion,

soc

ial,

lega

l an

d ps

ycho

logi

cal s

uppo

rt.

Pro

vide

pos

t-re

scue

and

la

ndin

g as

sist

ance

at

harb

ours

.

Rai

se a

war

enes

s pa

rtic

ular

ly

thro

ugh

diss

emin

atio

n of

pos

itive

im

ages

. Sup

port

com

mun

ity

initi

ativ

es to

sen

sitiz

e pu

blic

opi

nion

.

Faci

litat

e ex

chan

ge o

f bes

t pr

actic

es a

nd c

omm

unic

atio

n.

Mon

itor

resp

ect o

f hum

an

right

s of

all

mig

rant

s at

in

tern

atio

nal b

orde

rs.

Pro

vide

ass

ista

nce

at la

nd

and

sea

bord

ers

as w

ell

as a

irpor

ts a

nd h

azar

dous

cr

ossi

ng p

oint

s.

Info

rm a

nd m

obiliz

e m

edia

and

po

litic

al c

ircle

s pa

rticu

larly

thro

ugh

laun

ch o

f glo

bal c

ampa

ign:

“P

rote

ct

Hum

anity

, Sto

p In

diffe

renc

e!”

Sup

port

Nat

iona

l Soc

ietie

s in

id

entif

ying

opp

ortu

nitie

s fo

r pe

er-

to-p

eer

supp

ort w

ithin

the

sam

e re

gion

and

acr

oss

regi

ons.

Ens

ure

acce

ss to

all

mig

rant

s.D

istr

ibut

e em

erge

ncy

food

, in

clud

ing

wat

er a

nd n

on-

food

item

s in

-cou

ntry

and

al

ong

mig

rato

ry ro

utes

.

Pro

mot

e re

spec

t of d

iver

sity

, no

n-vi

olen

ce a

nd s

ocia

l coh

esio

n (to

lera

nce

and

non-

disc

rimin

atio

n).

Sca

le u

p em

erge

ncy

hum

anita

rian

assi

stan

ce w

hen

situ

atio

ns o

f cris

is

occu

r (c

ontin

genc

y pl

anni

ng) w

ith

IFR

C g

loba

l dis

aste

r m

anag

emen

t to

ols

and

set-

up.

Pro

vide

fam

ily li

nks

serv

ices

to

mig

rant

s an

d th

eir

fam

ilies,

m

ost n

otab

ly b

y ad

aptin

g to

th

e ch

alle

nge

of re

stor

ing

fam

ily

links

acr

oss

num

erou

s bo

rder

s.

Mon

itor

and

prov

ide

shel

ter

and

acco

mm

odat

ion

serv

ices

.

Pro

mot

e th

e ro

le o

f you

th a

nd

volu

ntee

rs, t

rain

vol

unte

ers

with

Yo

uth

as A

gent

s of

Beh

avio

ral

Cha

nge

tool

.

Str

engt

hen

tech

nica

l sup

port

an

d gu

idan

ce fo

r R

ed C

ross

Red

C

resc

ent s

taff

and

volu

ntee

rs.

Impr

ove

the

plig

ht a

nd r

ight

s of

reje

cted

asy

lum

see

kers

and

m

igra

nts.

Mon

itor

acce

ss to

hea

lth

serv

ices

and

pro

vide

firs

t ai

d an

d he

alth

car

e.

Ens

ure

effe

ctiv

e ad

voca

cy re

gard

ing

the

Mov

emen

t’s p

rinci

ples

and

va

lues

.

Rei

nfor

ce r

isk

man

agem

ent.

Car

ry o

ut s

ensi

tizat

ion

activ

ities

ar

ound

ant

i-tra

ffick

ing

of h

uman

be

ings

.

Impr

ove

hygi

ene

cond

ition

s.P

rom

ote

lega

l and

saf

e m

igra

tion,

w

hile

resp

ectin

g di

gnity

of m

igra

nts,

to

cou

ntrie

s of

des

tinat

ion.

Pre

pare

nec

essa

ry s

teps

to e

nsur

e ad

equa

te fi

nanc

ing

of fu

ture

op

erat

ions

.

Pro

tect

at-

risk

mig

rant

s on

land

an

d se

a.

Pro

vide

psy

chol

ogic

al

supp

ort t

o al

l mig

rant

s in

-cou

ntry

and

in re

cept

ion

cent

res

or re

fuge

e ca

mps

.

Wor

k w

ith a

cade

mic

and

pol

icy

inst

itutio

ns to

str

engt

hen

evid

ence

-ba

se a

nd d

ialo

gue.

Con

tinue

to b

ring

atte

ntio

n to

the

suffe

ring

of p

eopl

e on

the

mov

e an

d th

eir

situ

atio

ns o

f hig

h ris

k an

d vu

lner

abilit

y, a

s w

ell a

s to

th

e po

sitiv

e as

pect

s of

mig

ratio

n (e

cono

mic

and

soc

ial c

ontr

ibut

ions

).


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The Red Cross of Serbia has been providing assistance to the country’s southern boarders and with mobile teams in the north since the onset of the emergency. Stephen Ryan/IFRC

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Tiziana Bonzon

For more information on this publication, please contact:

E-mail: [email protected]: +41 22 730 44 47Fax: + 41 22 733 03 95




meeting the humanitarian needs of vulnerable migrants

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