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Irregular Migration Ethical-philosophical comments. ESF Project Trafficking for forced labour in industries other than the sex industry across Europe 3 rd Workshop, Trinity College Dublin 21-22 February 2008. An Verlinden CEVI, Ghent University. Irregular migration – some numbers.
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Irregular Migration Ethical-philosophical comments ESF Project Trafficking for forced labour in industries other than the sex industry across Europe 3rd Workshop, Trinity College Dublin 21-22 February 2008 An Verlinden CEVI, Ghent University
Irregular migration – some numbers • Total numbers of (estimated) irregular migrants: • 15 - 30 million worldwide (IOM 2000) • 5 - 8 million in the EU (Düvell 2006) (10 to 15% of the total migrant population) • 50 000 - 100 000 in Belgium (Vulsteke 2005) • Inflow each year: • 2 – 4,5 million worldwide (ICMPD 2004) • 500 000 to 1 million in the EU (IOM 2003, Eu. Comm. 2006)
Trafficking – some facts • Total numbers of trafficked people • At least 2.4 million worldwide (ILO 2008) • Profile • mainly women & children (1.2 million) • Profits • +/- US$ 31.6 billion each year (Belser 2005) • Convictions • a few thousands every year Low risks - high returns
Trafficking & Irregular Migration • Economic crisis, underdevelopment, poverty, persecution, human rights violations, … in countries of origin • Migration Control Regime in Western Europe • Labour market competition, deregulation of labour standards, structural adjustments, 4D-Jobs Rise in irregular migration, THB & forced labour
Current Policies • Focus onsecurity & border controls • Where are the victims? • The labourdimensions of trafficking(ILO 2007): • 12.3 millionforcedlabourvictimsworldwide • 2.4 million of them are trafficked • 32% of all victimsweretraffickedintolabourexploitation • 34% weretraffickedforsexualexploitation (mainlywomen & girls) • 25% for a mixture of both • The humanrightsdimension
Normative dilemmas 1. Sovereignty versus human rights Are foreigners fellow men? 2. Practice versus law How to treat irregular migrants (victims of THB)?
Sovereignty versus human rights • Westphalian system of nation-states • Sovereignty – monopoly of violence – self-determination Control on admission through immigration policy • International human rights framework • UDHR (1948), ECHR (1950), Geneva Convention (1951), ICCPR (1966), ICESCR (1966), etc. • Protection of fundamental rights of international migrants • International obligations to irregular migrants/victims of THB
Sovereignty versus human rights • Erosion state sovereignty? • Decreased influence of nation-states because of globalisation • EU policy: national interests prevail • Balancing human rights – social ‘achievements’ soft law public order knowledge of rights labour market access to legal assistance social security
Sovereignty versus human rights • State sovereignty & human rights • The Security dilemma State security or human security? • The Solidarity dilemma Humanitarianism or justice?
Sovereignty versus human rights • The Security dilemma • Security as state security Emphasis on possible disruptive consequences of illegal immigration/THB securitisation discourse • Security as human security Emphasis on physical integrity & personal freedom human migration policy taking into account migrants’ needs
Sovereignty versus human rights 2. The Solidarity dilemma • Solidarity with irregular migrants out of humanitarianism National community is normative foundation for societal participation & solidarity Duty of humanitarian assistance towards irregular migrants • Solidarity with irregular migrants out of global justice Territorial boundaries are morally arbitrary Duty of justice towards irregular migrants/victims of THB
Practice versus law • Law legal framework – macro-level (state) citizens versus non-citizens • Practice application/interpretation of the law – social practices within civil society contexts the foreigner as fellow man
Practice versus law • Legal framework & moral convictions • Effectiveness of policy and fieldwork Feasibility versus humaneness • Professional and moral duties The extent of duties towards irregular migrants/victims of THB
Practice versus law • Different functionalities • Policy framework abstract legal framework – illegality as crime – procedures – common good – feasibility efficient & effective expulsionpolicy towards irregular migrants in view of legitimacy • Socialpractice application of the law – problem-solving oriented – human contact – individual well-being – humaneness & desirability real assistance out of humanitarianism
Practice versus law 2. Professional and moral duties • Professional duties application of the law in one’s official capacity rationality – rules • Moral duties out of concrete encounter with the other – moral appeal conscience – duties
The immigration paradox What is a crime from a strictly legal point of view can be aid or assistance from a social ethics point of view. And what can be justified in terms of a social or public ethics, can be fully immoral from an individual point of view.
Some recommendations • Holistic approach • Minister/state secretary of Migration • Interdepartmentality • Multi-level governance • Structural involvement & participation of migrant communities
Some recommendations • Ethical commission & deontological charters • Ethical commission on Immigration • Independent • Permanent • Differentiated composition • Tasks: • Systematic screening of alien law (juridical + ethical) • Mediation in sensitive cases (linked to accountability) • Deontological charters for social workers
Discussion The immigration paradox in practice • How to shape our individual practices – as social worker, policy maker, academic, lobbyist, … – looked at it from the perspective of our collective responsibility towards irregular migrants/victims of THB? • Expulsion policy: tailpiece or collapse of an efficient and effective migration policy?
An Verlinden Center for Ethics and Value Inquiry (CEVI) Dept. of Philosophy & Moral Science, Ghent University +32 (0)9 264 39 75 an.verlinden@ugent.be www.cevi-globalethics.be – www.igea.ugent.be More Information