MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN PRACTICE

By Najla Chahda

1994: CLMC’s inception

Social counseling, follow up, legal assistance inside and outside prisons

150,000 migrants assisted each year

Introduction

Orientation seminars on rights and responsibilities to 30,000 migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.

Awareness sessions for over 18,000 Lebanese persons on migrants’ rights and responsibilities.

Great vulnerability of migrants due to lack of awareness on their rights and sources of assistance.

Reinforcement of CLMC’s network of partners in countries of origin to provide prevention and protection to migrant workers through the migration process.

Country-specific Pre-Departure Orientation Sessions to reinforce knowledge of rights, where to seek assistance if/when needed, what are the risks of irregular migration channels.

2009: close collaboration with local NGO Pourakhi in Nepal

June 2010: Lebanon-specific curriculum for pre-departure orientation sessions (PDOS) and Training of Trainers sessions with Pourakhi's staff.

2010 – 2011: collaboration with Caritas Bangladesh and Bangladeshi grassroots NGO OKUP and adaptation of the Lebanon-specific pre-departure orientation curriculum to the Bangladesh context

2012: Trainers of Trainees with OKUP’s trainers and launching of PDOS.

EU-funded program “Initiating a global approach in supporting and empowering migrants throughout the migration cycle and asylum-seekers and refugees in Lebanon”:

◦ to contribute to the protection and defense of the rights of asylum-seekers, refugees and women domestic migrant workers throughout the migration cycle in Lebanon and countries of origin

◦ to foster their socio-economic development

CLMC is part of a consortium gathering Caritas Luxembourg and Austria, and partners from Ethiopia and Bangladesh.

3 specific objectives:◦ to contribute to the protection and

defense of the rights of the target group in Ethiopia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Nepal,

◦ to contribute to the promotion and protection of refugees’ and migrants’ rights, the rule of law and the implementation of ways to combat trafficking in human,

◦ to foster the socio-economic development of the target groups in Lebanon, Ethiopia and Bangladesh.

Tailor-made (individual) comprehensive protective assistance:

◦ migrants and refugees needing assistance are interviewed by social workers as soon as they are referred or come to Caritas centers or other project partners

Tailor-made (individual) reintegration assistance:◦ individual reintegration plans for returnees according to their needs and

those of their communities.◦ aims to ensure sustainable support and qualitative services

Methodology

Sustainable livelihood approach:o vocational training and seed

grants to build economic resiliency, sustain livelihoods, and contribute to community development over the long-term

Empowerment approach:◦ Target groups develop a sense of independence and financial

autonomy to act according to their own interests and needs

Network-based approach /case-management:◦ will create seamless services and strengthen protection across

borders◦ will enhance the existing networks and cooperation between NGOs

and governmental institutions in the respective countries

Participative approach/community based approach:o Migrants and communities

play an active role in building economic resiliency, defending their own rights to the maximum possible, and planning for long-term development.

Addressing structural causes of rights’ violations with advocacy and networking at national, regional and international levels:

◦ all consortium actors actively and directly involved and within advocacy networks in expressing their first hands-on experience together with structured analysis towards national governments and their relevant ministries, embassies of countries of origin, international organizations and other relevant stakeholders. Objectives to be addressed:

o Reforming the sponsorship system in Lebanon,o Reducing time in retention,o Protecting refugees and asylum seekers against retention

or deportation

◦ Capacity building of management staff and officers of relevant Ministries (Social, Justice),

o Lobbying with NGO-Networks.

Means to address these issues:

o Lobbying with countries of origin and international donors in United Nations (Human Rights Commission),

Coordination between Europe, Lebanon, and countries of origin for advocacy and awareness raising efforts,

Advocacy

Celebration of worldwide events: International Migrants Day, International Domestic Workers Day, and World Refugee Day:o Opportunities to reach the public, decision-makers, and

other participating stakeholders, o They provide a forum to distribute advocacy materials and

studies

Events will be primarily used for raising awareness and advocating specific issues of migration between Lebanon and countries of origin

Focus on issues of the gender dimension of migration, the dignity of domestic laborers, and cultural attitudes

Joint decisions for common themes and advocacy agendas,

Slogans, logos, graphic design, and messages will all be coordinated across all the partners through teleconferences

Advocacy agenda with one or two key demands will be developed in coordination between all partners each year

Invitation of supportive embassies, international organizations, media, and NGOs to attend with a view to mobilizing them to join in advocacy efforts

Different intended audiences and expected results of the advocacy events from one country to another but same goal:

o To raise awareness on the cross-border nature of migration and the need to ensure that migrants have their rights upheld through the migration process

Preventive measures:

◦ Adaptation of the PDOS to the culture and specific contexts of migrant workers’ homeland

◦ Modules: Rights and responsibilities in Lebanon Basic Arabic phrases Lebanese culture Where to seek assistance if needed Trafficking and irregular migration Presentation of household work in Lebanon

◦ Visual and oral techniques and interactive means to increase their understanding

Referral among partners in Lebanon and countries of origin ensuring a holistic approach throughout the migration cycle

Strength of the project

Better coordination among UN Agencies and Civil Society Actors

Promote the ratification and implementation of existing international instruments to protect migrants

.

Recommendations for the HLD

advocate for a humanitarian space, distinct from authorities, which will enable National Societies to address the migrants’ needs

strengthen cooperation among NS from countries of origin, transit and destination(bilateral agreements).

adopt a dual track approach on migrant women

implement projects addressing specific vulnerability of women

sensitize the public to the specific vulnerability of women (decision-makers, media. politicians, public at large)

 advocate the rights and protection of children and advocate for creation of specific programmes tailored to the needs of children