IOM’s Global Migration Data Analysis CentreResearch on Forced and Irregular Migration

EU and Global Asylum-Related Migration Research – Gaining an OverviewFirst international conference

European Asylum Support OfficeMalta, 16 May 2016

IOM’s Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (GMDAC)

Officially launched by DG Swing, on September 7th, 2015

Enhance IOM’s global migration data collection & analysis

Part of IOM’s HQ Global migration challenges

4 staff from Geneva + new recruits

3 key goals1. Provide timely and authoritative analysis of data on global migration issues2. Enhance IOM’s efforts to build the data capacities of Member States and Observers3. Promote a better understanding and use of migration data, including IOM data

Key Areas

1. Data Analysis of Global Migration TrendsGlobal Database on missing migrants Global Migration TrendsData Briefings

Determinants of asylum-related migration to Europe (EASO)Fatal Journeys 2015Measuring Well-Governed Migration (EIU)

Examples of Activities

IOM Statistical ReportIOM Assisted Voluntary Return Data Brief

GMG Migration & Development Data HandbookMigration data guidelines and tools (e.g. ECOWAS, South Africa)

Global Migration Policy Survey (with UNDESA)Migration & Development Seminar series Representing IOM at IAEG on SDGs

2. In-depth studies

3. IOM Data

4. Data Capacity-Building

5. Policy Engagement

Research on drivers of asylum-related migration (1)

• Literature review of significant push/pull factors for determining asylum-related migration- Commissioned by EASO, in partnership with Maastricht University

• Purpose: to provide an exhaustive list of significant factors influencing the decision to leave/claim asylum in the EU

• Methodology: 2 stages1. Compilation of a database on the literature on determinants of asylum-related migration (keywords)2. Determination of extent of relative consensus/divergence on the importance of identified determinants(qualitative methods)

• Complexity of “mixed migration” drivers Literature on both forced/irregular and economic (labour) migration

• Content1. Overview of migration models relevant for explaining asylum-related migration2. Discussion of factors that have been consistently (inconsistently) identified as significant3. Limitations of push/pull factors framework, gaps and future research needs4. Literature database (including list of “push”, “pull” and “intervening” factors)

• Caveats- Vast and diverse body of literature challenging to compare studies- Impossibility to clearly separate drivers of economic/voluntary vs. forced/involuntary movements- Divergence not lack of relevance but greater difficulty in isolating significant impact

Research on drivers of asylum-related migration (2)

• Elements of relative consensus:- Socio-economic factors (e.g. actual and expected wage differentials, formal and informal networks)- Political factors (e.g. conflict, real or perceived threats to personal security)

• Elements of relative divergence:- Demographic variables (e.g. population growth, share of youth in total population)- Historical, cultural, geographic factors (e.g. past colonial ties, linguistic similarities, physical distance)- Environmental factors (e.g. natural disasters, environmental degradation)- Migration policy factors (e.g. restrictive policies in destination countries)

• More research needed on:- Drivers of forced/irregular migration (large-scale samples of irregular migrants)- Dynamics of migration journeys and how these shape migrants’ decisions en route (role of networks)- Impact of policies (e.g. migration and asylum policies) on migrants’ decisions

Research on drivers of asylum-related migration: findings

• Only global database on migrant fatalities en route (deaths and disappearances)- Since 2014- Information on age, gender, origin and migration routes- Data sources: government authorities, international organizations, media- Regular data briefings, e.g. Migration of Children to Europe (with UNICEF)

• Global report: Fatal Journeys 2015: Identification and Tracing of Dead and Missing Migrants - Forthcoming (June 2016)- Estimates and trends in migrant fatalities globally (regional chapters)- Challenges of identifying dead and missing migrants

• 1 Jan – 10 May, 2016: 1,650 dead and missing (presumed dead) migrants recorded, 1,360 in the Mediterranean

• 2015, deadliest year on records for migrants: over 5,400 migrants estimated to have died or gone missing while trying to cross international borders

Missing Migrants Project (1)

Missing Migrants Project (2)

Global report on migrant smuggling (1)

• Follow-up to an expert meeting on migrant smuggling held in Turkey (Dec. 2015)

• Timely discussion: large increase in migrant smuggling in 2014—2015 (Eastern Med. Route)

• Benchmark report on existing data/research globally

• Chapters by regional experts- Discussion of national legislation/data sources – dearth of data in most regions (or not publicly available)- Comparison across regions diversity of practice and difficulties in collecting data- Identification of most common smuggling routes and profiles of migrants and smugglers

Global report on migrant smuggling (2)

• Project funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), April—October 2016

• Rationale: “Safe migration“ in the SDGs – but lack of definition and indicators

• Planned activities- 2 workshops on key aspects of safe migration to Europe (Nuremberg, June 2016 and Athens, Oct. 2016)- Data briefings and working papers to address gaps and issues identified- 2 research studies on unsafe migration from Iraq and Nigeria to Europe and return experiences- Knowledge platform on available research and data on mixed migration to Europe, by theme

“Reducing the risks of unsafe migration: linking research, data and policy”

Contact:Frank Laczko

DirectorIOM Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (GMDAC)

Berlinflaczko@iom.int

www.gmdac.iom.intgmdac@iom.int

Twitter: @IOM_GMDAC