Migration for Sustainable and Equal Societies

A solution advocated by the British Red Cross is to provide access to platforms where refugees can make their voices heard. One such channel is the refugee VOICES network, facilitated by the British Red Cross. The network runs in towns and cities across England, Scotland and Wales, and encourages individuals to become ambassadors for the network, speaking up about their own experience of migration. The network produces a podcast which shares stories of migration in order to raise public awareness of the plights of migrants, as well as posting on a range of social media platforms and a blog, giving refugees and migrants a voice on the issues that matter to them. The VOICES network influences the way that British Red Cross delivers their services for migrants and refugees, grounding the charity's approach in the lived experiences of migrants. Ambassadors of the VOICES network have also met with MPs in Westminster in order to advocate for change in immigration policy in the UK.

Presented by: Michael Adamson, CEO, British Red Cross, UK

VOICES network

This solution can be achieved by host country governments and civil society groups, through the provision of schemes and resources such as language courses, buddying schemes, and outreach activities with local communities that enable people to meet asylum seekers and refugees living in their community. An example of such an initiative is in South Korea, where one refugee group runs an 'international kitchen' once a month, in which refugees are provided with cooking materials to cook food from their home country, which they then share with members of the local community. Such approaches not only foster a sense of community, encouraging migrants to interact with their host community, but also help the host-country communities to find commonalities with the migrants, and to view them as normal people.

Presented by: Michael Adamson CEO, British Red Cross, UK, and William Gois, Head of the Migrant Forum, Asia, Philippines

South Korea refugee international kitchen

It is important to develop multi-country solutions to managing migration, as this is an international issue, and not something that can be 'solved' by one country alone. To this end, a systems-change approach and more systematic thinking must be applied to the issue in order to form holistic and comprehensive plans to tackle it.

Presented by: Michael Adamson CEO, British Red Cross, UK

The International Organization for Migration

The British Red Cross believes in the need to reform asylum systems in the UK to make them more just and effective. The NGO identified three key areas that must be tackled in order to achieve this. The first relates to 'Safe Routes', and the need to provide safer ways for refugees to reach the UK, resettle and reunite with families. This might include the ability to apply for UK asylum in another country, and to then be assisted to travel in a safe and legal way to the UK. The second concerns 'Fair Decisions', which includes reform of the asylum system such that decisions around asylum are quicker, and are right the first time, without the need for lengthy appeals. The third and final theme is that of 'Safe Homes and the Right Support'. This involves providing safe, suitable housing to refugees and asylum seekers while they are waiting for a claim to be approved as well as after the approval of their claim, so that they are able to build a healthy and fulfilling life in the UK.

Presented by: Michael Adamson CEO, British Red Cross, UK

Red Cross IMPROVING THE LIVES OF REFUGEES

In some countries, migrants are barred from joining trade unions or civil society groups that would protect their interests. The Migrant Forum in Asia finds alternative solutions that enable migrant communities to come together to share their interests, building a stronger sense of community and support. This can be achieved through the creation of sport or cultural gatherings. In such settings, migrants can connect with others and form informal support networks.

Presented by: William Gois, Head of the Migrant Forum, Asia, Philippines

Migrant Forum in Asia

The Migrant Forum in Asia provides support and accompaniment measures to migrants in foreign countries. These include providing training courses to migrants, as well as a social worker programme. The charity social workers are volunteer expatriate citizens who offer support to new migrants and can accompany migrants who are in distress, or struggling in their host country.

Presented by: William Gois, Head of the Migrant Forum, Asia, Philippines

Migrant Forum in Asia

There is significant focus in academia and policy on what host, or receiving, countries might do to better support migrants and asylum seekers as they return back to their home countries. However, there is a space and need to consider what countries of origin might do to support migrants returning home, and to better facilitate the political, legal, economic, health and cultural aspects of return. In Moldova, for example, return migrants who invest in agriculture and rural development are offered 50% on top of their investment by the government as a strategy for rural development. However, there are some issues associated with this solution. For example, to achieve the government grant, a return migrant has to prove that their income in their host country was 100% legal - where much migrant work is often cash-in-hand, this can hamper the ability for return migrants to access this incentive.

Presented by: Dr Irina Kuznetsova, Associate Professor, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham

Moldova Grants to Establish Small Businesses

Migrants' Incentives investment

There is a need to shift away from common conceptions around the 'success' or 'failure' of a migrant upon their return to their home country. Neoclassical approaches relate migrant return to a failure to make use of opportunities presented to them in the receiving country. In comparison, New Economics of Labour approaches view migration as a temporary approach, and assume that return is a calculated strategy. There is a need for a more everyday geography perspective within academia towards how such decisions about return migration are made, along with an understanding that it is impossible to classify each decision according to a success/failure binary. This would allow for a more holistic and human understanding of migration and open new areas of research in academia on the topic.

Presented by: Dr Irina Kuznetsova, Associate Professor, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham

Migration & Agriculture in Moldova