Summary
Introduction
Key data sources
International instruments, initiatives and dialogues
Summary

 

Learning Objective
Learning objectives
  • Understand the various mobility dimensions to consider and address after a crisis
  • Understand specific needs of mobile populations and affected communities due to crises
  • Enhance understanding of the mobility dimensions of protracted displacement situations, durable solutions and broader recovery
Introduction
Mobility dimensions of crises

Most conflicts, armed violence, disasters or health epidemics have mobility dimensions. The mobility dimensions of crisis refer to the causes and impacts of crisis on the mobility of individuals and communities. These causes and impacts range from the direct protection, safety and well-being of those affected to the wider implications on society. All of these can have longer term impacts on a country and community’s well-being, security and development. More specifically, mobility dimensions of crisis arise when people move, or require support to move, for their safety and well-being.

  • Affected populations have protection risks and/or assistance needs due to their displacement, including when they return home or restore their livelihood elsewhere. Host communities adapt services, facilities and infrastructure to accommodate the arrival and stay of crisis-affected populations, sometimes temporarily, sometimes longer term.
  • The impact of large movements of people or population influxes alters existing local or national dynamics.
  • Mobility patterns, such as those associated with nomadic routes or seasonal labour cycles, are disrupted due to conflict, violence, climatic shocks, or restricted due to epidemics, among other factors.
Image / Video

Source

IOM, 2012.

Although it can be helpful to understand crises in terms of phases (before, during, after), it is not always so straightforward. The phases of crisis and types of impact they produce typically overlap. Communities can simultaneously host displaced populations, receive returning populations and/or have populations being driven outwards. Prevention activities are also important to avert an existing crisis from continuing, escalating, or recurring. Humanitarian responses may require disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities to take place in parallel. Likewise, conflict sensitivity and resilience building should be considered at all phases of a crisis. Peacebuilding, which is typical to post-conflict settings, also contains measures to prevent conflict and reduce risk of future crises (IOM, 2012). Moreover, different crisis types may erupt concurrently (such as a health epidemic during a conflict or in a disaster zone, or a natural hazard during a conflict). These are known as complex crises.

Addressing the mobility dimensions of a crisis calls for comprehensive and multidisciplinary approaches. Given the breadth and complexity of the issue that extends beyond migration governance, this chapter briefly addresses some of the key concepts and priorities of the mobility dimensions of crises.

Populations and communities affected by the mobility dimensions of crisis

Displaced people who remain within their country’s borders are known as internally displaced persons (IDPs). Those who have crossed an international border during a conflict often qualify as refugees falling under the protection of the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, and the mandate of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR). However, people who have crossed a border following a disaster, or due to the negative impacts of climate change, typically do not qualify for refugee status.

International migrants, regardless of their migration status, may find themselves caught in a crisis situation in a host or transit country. Being neither a refugee nor citizen – either where the crisis erupted or to where they were displaced – they may not be covered by existing protection and/or assistance mechanisms. They may face language barriers, restrictions on mobility and other obstacles. Such obstacles can hinder their ability to access protection or otherwise ensure their own safety and well-being [Migrants in Countries in Crisis (MICIC) Initiative, 2016].

Pastoralists and seasonal migrant workers may be impacted by a crisis. A crisis may alter their access to markets, grazing and water points for livestock or agricultural zones, or the like (see Interlinkage Labour mobility as adaptation to climate change). Blocked migration corridors can also exacerbate competition over resources, as well as tensions or conflicts over encroachment onto farmlands (FAO, 2016).

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Source

IOM/Amanda Nero,  2016.

A person’s mobility status may also change throughout a crisis. People may have moved multiple times during a conflict, each time with varying degrees of choice and force. An IDP may become a refugee after crossing a border or a returning refugee may end up displaced internally. A displaced person may become a victim of human trafficking. A labour migrant may become a refugee sur place.

Affected populations also include communities and those who benefit from community-based programming, whether they host affected populations, whether they are communities of origin/return/transit, or whether they are at risk of becoming so. In this way, crisis affects different segments of society differently, and this equally applies to the capacities and vulnerabilities of individuals during movement or displacement. For instance, the financial situation or the social background of individuals (their gender, race, age, language, ethnicity, indigenous background, sexual orientation, religion and education) will be relevant to how people are affected. Women and girls, non-binary individuals, persons identifying as LGBTI, older persons, people with disabilities and other marginalized groups may face constraints in accessing services or receiving assistance, experience varied forms of discrimination or have unique or heightened vulnerabilities.

Depending on circumstances, people may have experienced hardship and trauma during their journeys which exacerbate vulnerabilities. Displaced women and children (and those traveling alone) are often particularly vulnerable to exploitation and gender-based violence (see Gender in crisis and post-crisis contexts). Crisis situations can also augment the exploitive practices of smugglers and amplify risks of human trafficking (see Trafficking in persons and the mobility dimensions of crises).

To Go Further
  • IOM, Migration Crisis Operational Framework (MCOF), 2012 and 2021 Addendum. MCOF is IOM’s central reference point on addressing the mobility dimensions of crisis, with Member States encouraged to utilize the Framework to enhance their own preparedness and response capacity, with support from IOM. MCOF outlines 15 sectors of assistance that may be relevant before, during and after a crisis and places people at the centre of the response. These sectors include: camp coordination and camp management; displacement tracking; shelter and settlements; water, sanitation and hygiene; health; mental health and psychosocial support; protection; peacebuilding and social cohesion; livelihoods and economic recovery; basic infrastructure and services; transitional justice; land and property; disaster risk management; humanitarian border management and services for citizens abroad and movement assistance.
The importance of managing the mobility dimensions of crises

As of December 2020, nearly 82.4 million people were displaced due to persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations within and across borders [Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), 2021; United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 2021]. Each year since 2008, Disaster-related displacements have averaged around 25 million people (IDMC, 2021). Addressing the mobility dimensions of crises is central to saving lives, reaching those in need and reducing humanitarian risk, vulnerability and need. More than a humanitarian imperative, it is critical for the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Governments bear the primary responsibility to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of crisis-affected persons on their territory, and where appropriate those of their nationals abroad. Depending on the nature of the crisis, any number of ministries, departments and sectors may be engaged in responding to different aspects. For instance, particular ministries will be responsible for service delivery, disaster management, humanitarian action, peacebuilding, migration management, development, urban planning, youth, employment, gender, peace and security, governance and rule of law and consular services. When populations displaced due to persecution, conflict or violence cross an international border, they may request asylum in the destination State, which requires undergoing a refugee status determination (see the UNHCR Emergency Handbook, among other resources).

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IOM/Chris Lom, 2011.

The United Nations, international organizations, financial institutions, local and international civil society organizations and the private sector support the efforts of national authorities upon request (see Actors and partnerships for migration).

Indeed, when the impact of a crisis surpasses government capacities, an international coordination mechanism may be activated (more on Coordinating a humanitarian response).

The importance of addressing mobility dimensions after a crisis

Following a conflict or armed violence, peace remains fragile and populations and communities continue to be at risk if the grievances that led to the conflict or violence are not addressed. It is estimated that 60 per cent of conflicts recur (Gates, Nygard and Trappeniers, 2016). Also, the sustainability of returns is reduced if returning populations are confronted with the same or worse conditions from before they were displaced. The recovery phase of a disaster is an opportunity to build back better and put in measures that could reduce future risks or better prepare for potential disasters. It can also be transformative, providing entry points, for instance, to transform prevailing discriminatory conditions into an environment that promotes gender equality and social inclusion, for instance, in the longer term.

Transition and recovery interventions, including during protracted situations also address international migrants who continue to reside in the crisis-affected country and who may have unique needs with respect to accessing services and being included in recovery efforts. Reconstruction efforts might attract labour migrants, while also enabling pastoralists and seasonal labour migrants to resume livelihood activities, both reinforcing individual recovery as well as bolstering local and national economies and food supplies. All of these different mobile groups and their mobility patterns should be included as factors in the intervention, as different segments of the population or geographic areas may recover at different paces. Sustained, multi-year engagement is necessary, and interventions must be tailored to local contexts and the capacities of the various populations.

Key data sources

Strong data and analysis allow for quicker and more effective responses and solutions to a crisis. Crisis-related responses, whether before, during or after, are inherently multidisciplinary, and as such, draw on a range of different data providers. This can make it challenging to aggregate data for the purposes of crisis response: different data providers use their own formats and data-collection methodologies. They also collect and update their data at different intervals, which can alter the reliability or utility of data. For instance, national census data informs development activities and service delivery, but due to the long periods between census data collection, the census data may not be helpful in analysing the sudden arrival of displaced populations or mass migrant returns.

It is thus important to take stock of and map the information and sources available within the government and through external providers that would be needed to plan for and respond to different crises, and to understand the gaps. Where appropriate, it may be important to push for harmonized data collection methods among government entities on key aspects of crisis response and recovery, as well as encouraging the same from external data providers. To be meaningful and useful, data should be disaggregated by age, gender and other key variables so that crisis responses can be appropriately tailored to identify vulnerabilities and to meet needs, such as protection risks for unaccompanied and separated children.

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Source

IOM/Samantha Donkin, 2012.

When collecting data, the objective of the exercise, including the intended use of the data, should be clearly communicated to the relevant populations. All members of the community, including vulnerable or marginalized individuals, should be involved to ensure that the information collected reflects their needs (see Data, research and analysis for policymaking).

Privacy safeguards and ethical considerations must be adhered to (Migration Data Portal, 2020). Misinformation and/or ill-informed efforts, particularly in emergency, fragile or recovery contexts, can be destabilizing and must be avoided (see Communications in the context of crisis).

National sources

Data in more protracted contexts and in contexts evolving towards recovery may require more detailed assessments covering qualitative needs including movement intentions (that is, relocation, return, integration), labour skills, education, social characteristics, land tenure systems, financial means and so forth. Such qualitative data help facilitate individualized as well as broader community-based responses. The international community, upon request, may support the respective State in rebuilding data collection capacity, whether through the provision of equipment or expertise.

International sources

Examples of the data resources of the international community, relevant before, during or after a crisis (or a combination thereof), include:

  • Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) is a system used to track and monitor natural and human-caused disaster displacement and population mobility.
  • International Disaster Database (EM-DAT)  contains information on the occurrence and effects of over 22,000 mass disasters in the world from 1900 to the present day. It aims to inform decision making for disaster preparedness while providing a basis for vulnerability assessment and priority setting.
  • Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX) is an open platform portal for sharing data across crises and organizations in order to make humanitarian data easily accessible to users.
  • Humanitarian Response Platform contains information management tools and services, including guidance notes and policies, cluster-specific information and data, toolboxes and internet links, including to country-specific emergency sites. As well, it enables information exchange among operational responders during either a protracted or sudden-onset emergency.
  • INFORM is a global, open-source risk assessment tool for humanitarian crises that can support decisions about measures to strengthen disaster prevention and response preparedness through, for example, country profiles.
  • Joint IDP Profiling Service (JIPS) provides data on different displacement situations to inform more effective humanitarian and development interventions, advocacy efforts and the development of national policies to support the achievement of durable solutions.
  • Prevention Web offers a range of knowledge products and services to facilitate the work of professionals, including government officials on DRR.
  • REACH Initiative provides data, timely information and in-depth analysis from contexts of crisis, disaster and displacement. As well, it facilitates the development of information tools and products that enhance the humanitarian community’s decision-making and planning capacity.
  • Relief Web offers a broad range of data on global crises that can be filtered by country, vulnerable group and other relevant factors.
  • World Bank provides valuable information on fragile and conflict-affected situations that could be useful in the preparedness and recovery context.

See also Migration, environment and climate change for additional relevant sources associated with sudden-onset disasters and natural hazards.

Good Practice
National Disaster Management Information System, Afghanistan

In 2017, the Government of Afghanistan put in place the National Disaster Management Information System (NDMIS) to improve disaster information management, allowing real-time disaster data sharing, faster report development and decision-making. It is accessible all over Afghanistan via the internet.

Source

IOM, 2019.

To Go Further
  • IOM, Data Protection Manual, 2010.
    This publication outlines IOM principles in ensuring data protection and provides guidelines as informed by relevant international standards.
International instruments, initiatives and dialogues
International law and principles

States bear the primary responsibility to protect and assist crisis-affected people residing in their territory, in accordance with international and national law. There are a number of legal frameworks that include protections for the rights of crisis-affected populations. Some are listed in tables below, and explored in detail in International migration law and Human rights of migrants: An overview.

Under international human rights law, the right to life requires a State to either ensure that the population benefits from goods and services necessary for its survival or, if unable to do so, to allow access to humanitarian relief. States have at the very minimum to take measures to ensure adequate conditions for protecting the right to life, such as by providing individuals access to basic shelter, primary health care and minimum essential food and water (IOM, 2016; OHCHR, 2018). The obligations set forth in international human rights law protect all individuals at all times, including displaced people, migrants caught in crisis and other populations in all phases of crisis situations.

International humanitarian law (IHL), which applies during armed conflicts, includes an obligation, subject to the consent of the concerned party, to undertake relief actions if the civilian population suffers from undue hardship because of a lack of supplies essential for its survival. States are also obliged, under IHL, to allow free passage to relief consignments, subject to certain limits. Different rules apply depending on the type of armed conflict, for example, occupation, international or non-international (IOM, 2016).

Refugee law refers to the body of international legal instruments and international customary law that governs the protection of individuals who have crossed an international border and are at risk of or have been victims of persecution in their country of origin. It identifies refugees in need of international protection and the rights to which they are entitled.

With regards to international migrants, consular law, specifically the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, defines what consular personnel of the migrants’ country of nationality can do in order to assist their nationals abroad in crises (MICIC Initiative, n.d.). Article 5 of the Vienna Convention includes the assistance States can provide for their nationals abroad (Article 5.e), such as through the targeted delivery of relief goods, emergency cash assistance, replacement of documents lost in the disaster or organization of evacuation operations.

The 1998 Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement remain the most important international framework for the protection of IDPs. While not legally binding, they consolidate international legal norms found in existing treaties and conventions, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law. These 30 guiding principles set out measures to prevent displacement, including the right to protection from arbitrary displacement and to assistance and protection for those displaced. They also uphold the right of IDPs to find durable solutions, and call on international organizations to provide support to national authorities in responding to and preventing internal displacement.

List
Global instruments

Note: This list is not exhaustive.

Regional instruments

Regional instruments

Note: This list is not exhaustive.

To Go Further
  • The African Union Model Law on internal displacement, 2018.
    This model was adopted by the African Union Summit in January 2018. Its 14 chapters and 64 articles comprehensively cover the displacement cycle, including, among other things, protection and assistance during displacement, the composition of national coordination and implementation mechanisms, and mechanisms for national disaster early warning, preparedness and management.
Commitments and initiatives

Below are a selection of commitments and initiatives relevant for addressing the mobility dimensions of crisis. See also Migration, environment and climate change and Initiatives and commitments addressing migration.

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Migrants and displaced persons are among the most vulnerable populations at risk of being left behind, and whose needs are reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) laid out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The SDGs commit all United Nations Member States to development and to reducing poverty in ways that build people’s resilience, and that help prevent or mitigate the impacts of displacement (see Initiatives and commitments addressing migration). Humanitarian actors consider the SDGs to be in line with humanitarian protection and assistance efforts.

SDG
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
  • Target 1.5

    Build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters
  • Target 3.d

    Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks
  • Target 5.1

    End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
  • Target 5.2

    Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation
  • Target 5.a

    Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws
  • Target 6.b

    Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management
  • Target 10.2

    Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status
  • Target 11.5

    Significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations
  • Target 11.b

    Substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 holistic disaster risk management at all levels
  • Target 13.1

    Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
  • Target 13.2

    Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
  • Target 13.3

    Improve education, awareness raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
  • Target 13.b

    Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities
  • Target 15.3

    Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
  • Target 15.5

    R    educe the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
  • Target 16.1

    Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
  • Target 16.3

    Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
  • Target 16.a

    Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime
  • Target 16.b

    Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development
  • Target 17.17

    Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships
  • Target 17.18

    Enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including for least developed countries and small island developing States, to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts

Note: This list is not exhaustive.

Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration seeks to minimize the adverse drivers that compel people to leave their country of origin and to address the structural factors impacting migration decision-making, including disasters, climate change and other environmental factors (see Initiatives and commitments addressing migration). It also calls for actions to ensure that migrants receive consular protection and humanitarian assistance when caught in crisis situations; to ensure that migrants are included in emergency preparedness plans; to enable political participation, including in peace and reconciliation processes in their countries of origin; and to identify and strengthen solutions for migrants compelled to leave their countries of origin due to slow-onset disasters, the adverse effects of climate change, and environmental degradation in cases where adaptation in or return to their country of origin is not possible.

GCM
Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
  • Objective 2(a)

    Promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and the commitment to reach the furthest behind first, as well as the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030.
  • Objective 2(c)

    Establish or strengthen mechanisms to monitor and anticipate the development of risks and threats that might trigger or affect migration movements, strengthen early warning systems, develop emergency procedures and toolkits, launch emergency operations, and support post-emergency recovery, in close cooperation with and support of other States, relevant national and local authorities, National Human Rights Institutions, and civil society.
  • Objective 2(f)

    Strengthen collaboration between humanitarian and development actors, including by promoting joint analysis, multi-donor approaches and multi-year funding cycles, in order to develop long-term responses and outcomes that ensure respect for the rights of affected individuals, resilience and coping capacities of populations, as well as economic and social self-reliance, and by ensuring these efforts take migration into account.
  • Objective 2(g)

    Account for migrants in national emergency preparedness and response, including by taking into consideration relevant recommendations from State-led consultative processes, such as the Guidelines to Protect Migrants in Countries Experiencing Conflict or Natural Disaster (MICIC Initiative, 2016).
  • Objective 2(h)

    Strengthen joint analysis and sharing of information to better map, understand, predict and address migration movements, such as those that may result from sudden-onset and slow onset natural disasters, the adverse effects of climate change, environmental degradation, as well as other precarious situations, while ensuring the effective respect, protection and fulfilment of the human rights of all migrants.

  • Objective 2(i)

    Develop adaptation and resilience strategies to sudden-onset and slow-onset natural disasters, the adverse effects of climate change, and environmental degradation, such as desertification, land degradation, drought and sea level rise, taking into account the potential implications on migration, while recognizing that adaptation in the country of origin is a priority.

  • Objective 2(j)

    Integrate displacement considerations into disaster preparedness strategies and promote cooperation with neighbouring and other relevant countries to prepare for early warning, contingency planning, stockpiling, coordination mechanisms, evacuation planning, reception and assistance arrangements, and public information.

  • Objective 2(k)

    Harmonize and develop approaches and mechanisms at sub-regional and regional levels to address the vulnerabilities of persons affected by sudden-onset and slow-onset natural disasters, by ensuring they have access to humanitarian assistance that meets their essential needs with full respect for their rights wherever they are, and by promoting sustainable outcomes that increase resilience and self-reliance, taking into account the capacities of all countries involved.

    Objective 2(l)

    Develop coherent approaches to address the challenges of migration movements in the context of sudden-onset and slow-onset natural disasters, including by taking into consideration relevant recommendations from State-led consultative processes, such as the Agenda for the Protection of Cross-Border Displaced Persons in the Context of Disasters and Climate Change, and the Platform on Disaster Displacement.

    Objective 5(g)

    Develop or build on existing national and regional practices for admission and stay of appropriate duration based on compassionate, humanitarian or other considerations for migrants compelled to leave their countries of origin, due to sudden-onset natural disasters and other precarious situations, such as by providing humanitarian visas, private sponsorships, access to education for children, and temporary work permits, while adaptation in or return to their country of origin is not possible.

    Objective 5(h)

    Cooperate to identify, develop and strengthen solutions for migrants compelled to leave their countries of origin due to slow-onset natural disasters, the adverse effects of climate change, and environmental degradation, such as desertification, land degradation, drought and sea level rise, including by devising planned relocation and visa options, in cases where adaptation in or return to their country of origin is not possible.

    Objective 7(a)

    Review relevant policies and practices to ensure they do not create, exacerbate or unintentionally increase vulnerabilities of migrants, including by applying a human rights-based, gender- and disability-responsive, as well as an age- and child-sensitive approach.

    Objective 7(b)

    Establish comprehensive policies and develop partnerships that provide migrants in a situation of vulnerability, regardless of their migration status, with necessary support at all stages of migration, through identification and assistance, as well as protection of their human rights, in particular in cases related to women at risk, children, especially those unaccompanied or separated from their families, members of ethnic and religious minorities, victims of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, older persons, persons with disabilities, persons who are discriminated against on any basis, indigenous peoples, workers facing exploitation and abuse, domestic workers, victims of trafficking in persons, and migrants subject to exploitation and abuse in the context of smuggling of migrants.

    Objective 7(j)

    Apply specific support measures to ensure that migrants caught up in situations of crisis in countries of transit and destination have access to consular protection and humanitarian assistance , including by facilitating cross-border and broader international cooperation, as well as by taking migrant populations into account in crisis preparedness, emergency response and post-crisis action.

    Objective 7(k)

    Involve local authorities and relevant stakeholders in the identification, referral and assistance of migrants in a situation of vulnerability, including through agreements with national protection bodies, legal aid and service providers, as well as the engagement of mobile response teams, where they exist.

    Objective 7(l)

    Develop national policies and programmes to improve national responses that address the needs of migrants in situations of vulnerability, including by taking into consideration relevant recommendations of the Global Migration Group Principles and Guidelines, Supported by Practical Guidance, on the Human Rights Protection of Migrants in Vulnerable Situations.

    Objective 12(b)

    Develop and conduct intra- and cross-regional specialized human rights and trauma informed trainings for first responders and government officials, including law enforcement authorities, border officials, consular representatives and judicial bodies, to facilitate and standardize identification and referral of, as well as appropriate assistance and counselling in a culturally-sensitive way, to victims of trafficking in persons, migrants in situations of vulnerability, including children, in particular those unaccompanied or separated, and persons affected by any form of exploitation and abuse related to smuggling of migrants under aggravating circumstances.

    Objective 12(e)

    Ensure that, in the context of mixed movements, relevant information on rights and obligations under national laws and procedures, including on entry and stay requirements, available forms of protection, as well as options for return and reintegration, is appropriately, timely and effectively communicated, and accessible.

    Objective 14(b)

    Involve relevant consular and immigration personnel in existing global and regional fora on migration in order to exchange information and best practices about issues of mutual concern that pertain to citizens abroad and contribute to comprehensive and evidence-based migration policy development.

    Objective 14(d)

    Strengthen consular capacities in order to identify, protect and assist our nationals abroad who are in a situation of vulnerability, including victims of human and labour rights violations or abuse, victims of crime, victims of trafficking in persons, migrants subject to smuggling under aggravating circumstances, and migrant workers exploited in the process of recruitment, by providing training to consular officers on human rights-based, gender-responsive and child-sensitive actions in this regard.

    Objective 14(e)

    Provide our nationals abroad the opportunity to register with the country of origin, in close cooperation with consular, national and local authorities, as well as relevant migrant organizations, as a means to facilitate information, services and assistance to migrants in emergency situations and ensure migrants’ accessibility to relevant and timely information, such as by establishing helplines and consolidating national digital databases, while upholding the right to privacy and protecting personal data.

    Objective 15(b)

    Ensure that cooperation between service providers and immigration authorities does not exacerbate vulnerabilities of irregular migrants by compromising their safe access to basic services or unlawfully infringing upon the human rights to privacy, liberty and security of person at places of basic service delivery.

    Objective 15(c)

    Establish and strengthen holistic and easily accessible service points at local level, that are migrant inclusive, offer relevant information on basic services in a gender- and disability-responsive as well as child-sensitive manner, and facilitate safe access thereto.

    Objective 15(e)

    Incorporate the health needs of migrants in national and local health care policies and plans, such as by strengthening capacities for service provision, facilitating affordable and non-discriminatory access, reducing communication barriers, and training health care providers on culturally-sensitive service delivery, in order to promote physical and mental health of migrants and communities overall, including by taking into consideration relevant recommendations from the WHO Framework of Priorities and Guiding Principles to Promote the Health of Refugees and Migrants.

Note: This list is not exhaustive.

Global Compact on Refugees

The Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), adopted in December 2018 by the United Nations General Assembly “seeks to operationalize the principles of burden- and responsibility-sharing” to better assist, protect and find solutions for “refugees and support host countries and communities” (part I, section ii, paragraph 5). Grounded in the international refugee protection regime, including the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol and regional refugee instruments, it is also guided by international human rights instruments, international humanitarian law and other international instruments, and is complemented by instruments for the protection of stateless people (see Initiatives and commitments addressing migration).

 Its objectives are to:

  1. Ease pressures on host countries;
  2. Enhance refugee self-reliance;
  3. Expand access to third-country solutions;
  4. Support conditions in countries of origin for return in safety and dignity.

World Humanitarian Summit

The World Humanitarian Summit (2016) aimed to bridge the linkages between the 2030 Agenda and humanitarian action. It called on States to reduce displacement in the long term, including by preparing for cross-border displacement due to disasters and climate change. It triggered several outcomes:

  • The Agenda for Humanity calls upon global leaders and humanitarian actors to implement five core responsibilities aimed at addressing humanitarian need, risk and vulnerability.
  • The New Way of Working (NWoW) is a working method, summarized in the Commitments to action that offers a concrete path for collaboration between humanitarian and development actors, governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private sector actors. It focuses on pursuing joint approaches towards collective outcomes by applying a multi-year approach; building local capacities; and applying comparative advantages.
  • The Grand Bargain emerged from the outcome of the High-Level Panel on Financing. Some of the biggest donors and aid providers committed to significantly increase prevention, mitigation and preparedness, increase collaborative humanitarian multi-year planning and funding as well coordination. As well, they agreed to secure resources for recovery, invest in durable solutions for displaced people and provide sustainable support to migrants, returnees and host/receiving communities, as well as securing resources for other situations of recurring vulnerabilities (see Initiatives and commitments addressing migration).
Policy Approaches
Improving efficiency in funding for development initiatives

In terms of funding, as per commitments of signatories of the Grand Bargain, work with humanitarian aid agencies and development agencies, to:

  • Achieve greater transparency
  • Provide more support and funding tools for local and national responders
  • Increase the use and coordination of cash-based programming
  • Reduce duplication and management costs with periodic functional reviews
  • Improve joint and impartial needs assessments
  • Include people receiving aid in making the decisions which affect their lives
  • Increase collaborative humanitarian multi-year planning and funding
  • Reduce the earmarking of donor contributions
  • Harmonize and simplify reporting requirements
  • Promote enhanced engagement between humanitarian and development actors
Source

UN High Level Panel, 2016.

United Nations Prevention Agenda

The United Nations prevention agenda (2017) aims at increasing preventive diplomacy, reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and sustaining peace, strengthening partnerships and promote reforms to overcome fragmentation and consolidate capacities. It also highlights the importance of prevention across all areas of work.

Sustaining Peace Agenda

As an outcome of the twin resolutions General Assembly Resolution 70/262 (UNGA, 2016) and Security Council Resolution 2282 [United Nations Security Council (UNSC), 2016], the Sustaining Peace Agenda calls on development, peace and security, and human rights pillars to work in an integrated fashion to prioritize crisis prevention, address root causes of conflict and support institutions for sustainable peace and development. These major reform agendas underscore the importance of working together towards collective outcomes across the humanitarian, development, human rights and peacebuilding spectrum to bring about sustainable development. It generated the humanitarian–development–peace nexus (HDPN), or what is sometimes referred to as the triple nexus.

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030)

The Sendai Framework charts the global course on disaster risk reduction (DRR), including clear references to mobility and displacement (UNDRR, 2015) and calls for migrants to be included in the design and implementation of DRR (Paragraphs 7, 27.h and 36.a.vi). It also invites stakeholders to formulate policies to relocate people out of hazard-prone areas (27.k). And it encourages the adoption of policies and programmes to address disaster-induced mobility in a sustainable manner (30.l) (see Initiatives and commitments addressing migration).

To Go Further
  • UNDRR, Sendai Framework Monitor: Measuring Implementation of the Sendai Framework.

    This webpage presents various monitoring strategies as well as custom targets and indicators to evaluate how well the Sendai Framework is being implemented.
  • UNDRR, Terminology.

    This website offers basic definitions related to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) to promote a common understanding on the subject for use by the public, authorities and practitioners.

Platform on Disaster Displacement

The Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD) is a State-led process designed to work towards better protection for people displaced across borders in the context of disasters and climate change (PDD, n.d.). It grew out of the Protection Agenda of the Nansen Initiative, which ended in 2015 and drew attention to people displaced (or who might be displaced) across borders by disasters, highlighting the importance of reducing their vulnerability and building their resilience to the risk of displacement. PDD also lays out effective practices, challenges and gaps in finding lasting solutions for cross-border disaster-displaced persons, among other areas.

Migrants in Countries in Crisis Initiative

The Migrants in Countries in Crisis (MICIC) Initiative was a two-year State-led, multi-stakeholder consultative process (2014–2016), which produced the Guidelines to Protect Migrants in Countries Experiencing Conflict or Natural Disaster (see Initiatives and commitments addressing migration).

OECD DAC Recommendation on the Humanitarian–Development–Peace Nexus

OECD DAC Recommendation on the Humanitarian–Development–Peace Nexus (2021) is a comprehensive framework to incentivize more collaborative and complementary humanitarian, development and peace actions, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected situations. It provides a common set of 11 principles to guide and support donors, development cooperation actors and stakeholders in the international community. It also aims to strengthen coordination, programming and financing to address risks and vulnerabilities and strengthen prevention efforts.

New Urban Agenda

The New Urban Agenda (October 2016) helps to prevent displacement or mitigate its negative consequences in urban settings. Displaced populations and returnees are increasingly drawn to cities. The Agenda promotes housing policies that address all forms of discrimination and violence and prevent arbitrary forced evictions, upgrading and preventing slums and informal settlements, as well as planning for adequate housing options that are safe, affordable and accessible for members of different income groups of society, including those in vulnerable situations (see Initiatives and commitments addressing migration).

Addis Ababa Action Agenda

An outcome of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda increases support to countries that are vulnerable to (chronic) crisis related to conflicts or disaster. It does so by developing and implementing holistic disaster risk management in line with the Sendai Framework and by supporting national and local capacity for the prevention, adaptation and mitigation of external shocks and for risk management (see Initiatives and commitments addressing migration).

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List

Regional initiatives and commitments

States also come together at the regional level, particularly with respect to DRR and disaster management, through the following regional initiatives and commitments:

Regional initiatives and commitments

Note: This list is not exhaustive.

Inter-State policy dialogues

Many dialogues and processes on migration have discussed mobility dimensions of crises, including topics such as prevention, preparedness, risk reduction, emergency response, recovery and solutions. The various Inter-State consultation mechanisms on migration (ISCM) below also cover topics such as emergency preparedness and response, internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugee and protection.

List
Inter-State consultation mechanisms

Note: This list is not exhaustive.

Example
Caribbean Migration Consultations

The Caribbean Migration Consultations (CMC) is a non-binding forum that allows its Member States to discuss coordinated regional efforts for the effective management of migration and to develop policies with a rights-based approach aimed at effective and comprehensive migration governance in the region. Emergency preparedness and response and refugee protection are among CMC thematic areas of focus. CMC has held regular expert-level consultations among its Member States on these topics. These include:

The latter event involved regional and national stakeholders, including migration officers, disaster risk reduction and environment experts and consular affairs staff. It aimed to identify policy, normative and operational challenges and gaps related to disasters and displacement in the Caribbean, and to develop concrete, practical policy and programmatic guidance to enhance the region’s overall preparedness and response capacity to these challenges under the work of CMC.

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Source

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