Forced migration
Forced migration is a general term that refers to the movement of refugees and internally
displaced people those displaced by conflicts, environmental disasters, chemical or nuclear
disasters, famine or development projects.
Forced migration is not a new phenomenon. African history is replete with the phenomenon,
most tragically the slave trades to the Americas, Europe, and Asia, as well as the numerous
instances of forced migrations that occurred during the colonial period. Unfortunately, forced
migration did not end with the attainment of independence. In fact, new patterns emerged which
saw millions of people flee their homes for asylum in foreign countries or within their national
borders.
Who are forced migrants?
A. Refugees
The legal definition of refugee as defined in the UN 1951 convention relating to their status , a
refugee is someone residing outside his/her country of nationality and has a rational fear of
returning because he/she might be persecuted because of race, religion, nationality, membership
of a particular social group or political opinion. Those recognized as refugees have a clear
international legal status and are afforded the protection of the United Nation High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In addition to the 1951 UN Convention, the UN Protocol
1967, relating to the status of refugees, defines their rights and duties and contains provision in
respect of a variety of matters in day-to-day life, such as the right to work, public assistance, and
social security. In many such matters refugees are to receive the same treatment as nationals of
their country of settlement or resettlement. The current refugee problem is a massive human
tragedy and challenge. Refugees are found in every region of the globe, although the distribution
is uneven. The problem falls disproportionately on some countries, many of whom are ill
equipped in terms of resources, to shoulder the burden. Furthermore, many of refugees crossing
borders with little or no access to protection or humanitarian assistance and many of refugees are
women and children’s.
All refugees share common human needs and problems arising from their refugee experience, in
addition to their individual situations and requirements. However, the implications arising from
the differences in processes have to be taken into account in policy formulation and in social
service programs. Refugees have a right to international protection.
B. Internally displaced persons (IDPs)
The United Nation report, Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement uses the definition:
‘internally displaced persons are group of persons who have been forced to leave their homes or
places of habitual residence, as a result of armed conflict, violation of human rights or natural
or human made disasters and who have not crossed an internationally recognized state border.’
The displacement of people within their own countries is today a common international
phenomenon. While displaced people have the same rights as all others citizens, in reality, they
face discrimination. They need special protection and attention during their displacement, return,
resettlement or reintegration. Displacement is a social phenomenon that requires preventive
strategies within the framework of social and economic development to address the main causes
of conflicts that lead to the displacement of individuals and groups. Likewise, social and
economic development is the only means to avoid people’s subjugation or permanent
dependency on humanitarian assistance.
C. Smuggled people
Smuggled people are migrants who moved into another country illegally for profit. Smuggled
migrants may include those who have been forcibly displaced as well as those who have left their
homeland in search of better economic and social opportunities.
D. Trafficked people
Trafficked people are those who are moved by deception or coercion for the purposes of
exploitation. The profit in trafficking people comes not from their movement, but from the sale
of their sexual services or labor in the country destination. Human trafficking is a complex
phenomenon that is often driven or influenced by social economic cultural and other factors. It
also affects every country of the world, as countries of origin, transit or destination. Trafficking
often occurs from less developed countries to more developed countries where people are
rendered vulnerable to trafficking by virtue of poverty, conflict or other condition.
E. Asylum seekers
Asylum seekers are people who have moved across international borders in search of protection
or citizenship. An asylum-seeker is a person who has left their country and is seeking protection
from persecution and serious human rights violations in another country, but who hasn’t yet been
legally recognized as a refugee and is waiting to receive a decision on their asylum claim.
Asylum seekers have risen to the top of political agendas across the industrialized world, in
particular in Europe at the beginning of the 1990s.
