MC2CM live learning seminar opened by ICMPD DG Spindelegger

This thematic virtual session on specific vulnerabilities of migrant communities during the COVID 19 crisis focused on inclusive emergency responses, with a special look at migrants’ positive contributions to cities. The event gathered over 200 participants, including officials from local and regional governments across the world, international organisations, networks and civil society representatives.

This event aimed at fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange to identify challenges, responses and sustainable ways forward to better face such global challenges the future. ICMPD Director General Michael Spindelegger opened the session together with Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of UCLG and Maimunah Modh Shariff, Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN-Habitat. "Representing an organisation with over a quarter of a century experience in migration, I can say that since the Second World War, no other event has had such far-reaching consequences on human mobility. […]At the World Congress last November, I praised the role of cities as key actors in migration and the need to involve and fully acknowledge local authorities as key players in migration governance. In today’s context this becomes as paramount as ever", said Michael Spindelegger in the opening remarks. The participants at the beginning of the session recalled how migrants deserve particular attention in terms of specific protection needs. In particular, migrants need the recognition and visibility about what they bring to our communities and societies in finding a way out of the crisis. This is an opportunity to advocate for a new narrative around human mobility and migrants’ contribution to host societies. 

The webinar welcomed numerous interventions from distinguished mayors and policy makers such as Mayor of Al Hoceima and president of UCLG Mohamed Boudra, Mayor of Tunis Souad Abderrahim, Mayor of Grenoble Eric Piolle, Mayor of Lampedusa Salvatore Martello, Vice Mayor of Gaziantep Latif Karadag, Mayor of Sfax Mounir Elloumi, Vice Mayor of Quito Gissela Chalá, Mayor of Rabat Mohamed Sadiki and Spyros Oikonomou from the Greek Council for Refugees. Launch of the "Lampedusa Charter"? While many migrants represent an asset to fight the COVID-19 pandemic many other remain in situations of vulnerability and are dependant to the solidarity chain. Xenophobia and stigmatization is on the rise. Migrants often face difficulties in accessing adequate housing, basic services and health care. They are the first affected by recession, at risk to lose their jobs on the informal labour market and less equipped for home schooling (lack of means, language barriers). Several cities such as Grenoble, Sfax and Quito, displayed how they reach out to local communities, regardless of their legal status or working conditions, and how they respond to their needs in this crisis. The role of civil society has been often mentioned as key and pivotal in the interaction with and the support to migrants. These examples highlight the role cities play in migration governance and the need for a coherent and coordinated approach at all levels. This crisis could act as a catalyst to address shortcomings in governance systems, such as the need to fully involve cities in migration policymaking both at regional and national level. While migrants are part of our communities, local authorities do not always have the needed framework to assist and ensure rights to all inhabitants. There is a need to translate the dialogue between national and local authorities into legislative change that increases the capacity for local authorities’ responses (as mentioned by representatives from Tunis, Lampedusa, Grenoble and the Greek Council for Refugees).  

The discussion witnessed the proposal to launch the "Lampedusa Charter": a set of ideas and motions on how local authorities expect migration to be managed in the future. The reflection will aim at identifying ways to transform governance and legal systems to ensure that migrants are considered inhabitants of a territory and avoid post crisis social upheaval. At project level, MC2CM will continue its support to the network of cities by: Fostering knowledge via a study to by documenting MC2CM cities’ responses, identifying their challenges  and needs , and explore possible ways of action in the midterm perspective. Encouraging and supporting the implementation of mid-to-long term policies/action in response and adaptation to the new context. Nurturing the policy dialogue at the national and international level with recommendations based on the cities experiences and paving the way to more local-national dialogue in policymaking and decision contributing to make migration better.