Post on 08-Apr-2022
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
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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
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3International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Summary Meeting the Humanitarian Needs of Vulnerable Migrants
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.
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4International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Summary Meeting the Humanitarian Needs of Vulnerable Migrants
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.
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5International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Summary Meeting the Humanitarian Needs of Vulnerable Migrants
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
).
IFRC-case summary-proof5.indd 5 11/09/2015 10:06
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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: tiziana.bonzon@ifrc.orgTel: +41 22 730 44 47Fax: + 41 22 733 03 95
6International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Summary Meeting the Humanitarian Needs of Vulnerable Migrants
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