Migration
Context
Migrants, who account for more than a billion people worldwide, are one of the main drivers of urban growth. Migration policies are often developed at national level, yet cities carry much of the responsibility to ensure their inclusion and their access to housing and public services. Inclusive urban planning can encourage positive contributions of migrant communities to the economic, social and cultural development of cities and ensure that the needs of all inhabitants, regardless of their legal status, are met. Local Governments are advocating for a more inclusive approach to migration governance, having endorsed the Marrakech Mayoral Declaration in 2018, in which they commit to fulfill the Global Compacts for Migration and Refugees by engaging with all levels of government and with all actors engaged.
Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic must ensure that safety and protection measures include all urban inhabitants, including migrants. Important efforts need to be made to reduce migrants’ specific vulnerabilities during the outbreak and foster increased recognition of their contribution to host societies.
1B
There are currently about 1 billion migrants worldwide.
60%
About 60% of refugees reside in urban areas.
Challenges
Vulnerable migrants face serious challenges during the virus outbreak and beyond. In many cases, poor access to health services or to adequate housing conditions hinders their capacity to protect themselves from the virus and to practice social distancing in a safe, healthy environment.
Other relevant challenges include administrative burdens, communication barriers or fake news targeting migrant residents.
Learn more about the challenges being faced by cities and regions
Needs
Local governments must ensure that no one, including migrant residents, is left behind in their response to the crisis and beyond. Migrants should benefit from existing policy tools that promote inclusion and access to public basic services. Cities play a key role in implementing migration and asylum policies and need to be ensured enough room for maneuver to guarantee that they are being properly executed.
Responses
Learn how Quito cooperates with local associations and businesses to expand social assistance to migrant residents
Sfax is working with local and international associations to deliver food baskets to vulnerable migrants
Lampedusa is opening up vacant apartments and public facilities to migrant residents
Responses
Learn how Quito cooperates with local associations and businesses to expand social assistance to migrant residents
Sfax is working with local and international associations to deliver food baskets to vulnerable migrants
Lampedusa is opening up vacant apartments and public facilities to migrant residents:
Learn more about other responses and initiatives in terms of Migration:
Key Takeaways
- Strengthening a multi-stakeholder governance model is key to build new forms of citizenship and local democracy.
- Civil society organizations hold unique assets to build inclusive strategies targeted at migrant populations at the local level.
- Local and regional governments could leverage on temporary measures to protect migrants and propose permanent policies.
- An evidence-based approach must be promoted to ensure that migrants do not suffer the impact of racist and fake narratives.
- Migrants must have an active role in the elaboration of immediate and long-term recovery responses.
Download
the Press Release
Beyond
The Outbreak
Networking and collaboration are, more than ever, essential pillars to foster an inclusive approach to migration. In the political sphere, this calls for enhancing and improving the dialogue between national and local authorities to decentralize the approach towards migration and allow for specific responses to local needs. While migration competences rest with national governments, their impact is local; given that over 60% of migrants live in urban areas, cities need to be more involved when it comes to implementing policies that impact human mobility. From a social perspective, we see examples of how refugee communities are using their collective skills to help during the pandemic. For instance, the Greek Council for Refugees stated how doctors, pharmacists and other skilled professionals are offering to volunteer and help their fellow residents.
Building
Back Better
The UCLG Decalogue
“It is essential to ensure that Covid-19 recovery plans are done with the more vulnerable populations in mind, and not against them, by tackling false narratives and guaranteeing a rights-based approach to the aftermath of the pandemic.”
Resources
For further information on the topic of Migration and its impact on cities and regions, please refer to the related resources included below.
- UCLG Manifesto “The Future of Migration”
- MC2CM Project Policy Recommendations “Urban Challenges and Opportunities for the Mediterranean Region”
- UCLG-CSIPDHR “Global Charter-Agenda for Human Rights in the City”
- GPR2C communiqué “The Right to the City Facing COVID-19”
- MC2CM COVID-19 study – ‘Going the (Social) Distance: How migrant and refugee-sensitive urban COVID-19 responses contribute to the realization of the Global Compacts for Migration and Refugees’
- Public Service International’s statement: “Racism and xenophobia are a danger to public health”
- Mayors Migration Council‘s Live Resource Guide: Municipal Migrant & Refugee Sensitive COVID-19 Responses
- Global Exchange on Migration & Diversity’s Migrants with Irregular Status in Europe: Guidance for Municipalities (2019).
