In 1947, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights promised, among many others, the right to a basic standard of living. Amid the global Covid-19 pandemic, migrants, especially those living in overcrowded refugee camps, are at a high risk. However, while humanitarian crises have led to a rise in the number of refugees living in these conditions, most migrants are internally displaced persons, who do not leave their home country.
The International Organization for Migration defines a “migrant” as “any person who is moving or has moved across an international border or within a state away from his or her habitual place of residence, regardless of the person’s legal status, voluntary or involuntary movement, or reason for movement.” Migrants have for ages sought better economic opportunities, to join family members, or to escape local difficulties. Currently, the world is witnessing an unprecedented rise in migrants with an estimated 272 million migrants in 2019 alone.
In the 21st century, transnationalism transforms global cultural and territorial boundaries. Instantaneous communication and cheap travel enable migrants to socially participate in distant host countries as well as their home country. Depending on how migrant’s social inclusion is managed, this can lead to cultural exchange or hinder their integration.
To manage migration the global community will have to embrace the challenges and opportunities of transnationalism and modern technology. How can push and pull factors be integrated into the structural management of migration? How can radicalization and human trafficking be prevented? Should solutions to managing migration include proposals on how to deal with migrants or concrete action on their integration, such as the urban planning of refugee camps?
In the migrant ghettos of Columbia, the refugee camps of Ethiopia, and the recently burned down overcrowded camp on the islands of Lesbos, many basic rights, promised to all people more than two generations ago, remain elusive. We will come together at BERMUN2 to take resolute and sustainable steps to manage migration in the 21st Century.
Sincerely,
Conrad Chisolm, Secretary-General
Marius von Kleist, President of the General Assembly
Lena Diakite, Deputy Secretary-General
Nico Hammer, Deputy Secretary-General
