The Mediterranean City-to-City Migration (MC2CM) issued a new Thematic Learning Report drawing on the results of the regional event held online and hosted by Municipality of Seville and the Andalusian Fund of Municipalities for International Solidarity (FAMSI) from 15 to 18 June 2020.
This report sheds light on opportunities and challenges for rebalancing migration narratives in Mediterranean cities, especially when they are not based on evidence. Polarized migration-related stories often underestimate the complexity of human mobility and have significant effects on how the reality of migration plays out at the local level. Amid the uncertainty of the COVID19 pandemic, cities may see a raise in anti-migrants’ attitudes. Therefore, to shape migration-related policies, governments must work to close the gap between public perceptions and evidence-based migration narratives.
This publication endorses strategic communication that enhances social cohesion and portrays cities as agents of migration. Furthermore, it proposes a set of policy recommendations to support and enhance the role of cities in promoting balanced migration narratives.
Excerpts of the regional event held online available here.