Thematic Focus: ICTs & Other Technologies

Short pieces:

Apps, 911 services and mobile phones don’t offset deadly consequences of more restrictive border policies (The Conversation, Aug. 2024) [text]

- Focuses on the US.

Kakuma and Kalobeyei: Drone Imagery and Machine Learning for Better Planning of Refugee Settlements (USA for UNHCR, Aug. 2024) [text]

No CBP One = No Asylum? (The Asylumist Blog, Aug. 2024) [text]

- Focuses on the US.

New open access book:

Urban Refugees and Digital Technology: Reshaping Social, Political, and Economic Networks (McGill-Queen's Univ. Press, March 2024) [open access]

- "[This book] draws on contemporary data gathered from refugee communities in Bogotá, Nairobi, and Kuala Lumpur to build a new theoretical understanding of how technological change influences the ways urban refugees contribute to the social, economic, and political networks in their cities of arrival. This data is presented against the broader history of technological change in urban areas since the start of industrialization, showing how displaced people across time have used technologized urban spaces to shape the societies where they settle. The case studies and history demonstrate how refugees’ interactions with environments that are often hostile to their presence spur novel adaptations to idiosyncratic features of a city’s technological landscape."

Reports & journal articles:

"Artificial Intelligence, Datafication and Exploring the Minimum Content of Nationality," Statelessness & Citizenship Review, vol. 6, no. 1 (2024) [open access]

"#Asylum: How Syrian Refugees Engage with Online Information," vol. 4 (2024) [open access]

"Conjuring a Blockchain Pilot: Ignorance and Innovation in Humanitarian Aid," Geopolitics, Latest Articles, 13 Aug. 2024 [open access]

External Guidance Note for UNHCR Funded Partners on the Minimum Information Security Baseline (UNHCR, March 2024) [text]

"Quantifying Vulnerability: Humanitarian Datafication and the Neophilia of Integrated Power," Cultural Anthropology, vol. 39, no. 3 (2024) [open access]

- Focuses on Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon.

"Using Twitter to investigate discourse on immigration: the role of values in expressing polarized attitudes toward asylum seekers during the closure of Roxham Road," Frontiers in Social Psychology, 25 June 2024 [open access]

- Focuses on Canada. See also related post on The Conversation.

Resources:

Ask ReliefWeb [access]

- A new tool that is "powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), designed to enhance the user experience on ReliefWeb by allowing users to ask questions about individual reports through a chatbot-like interface. The chatbot responds with content exclusively from the report in question, ensuring the consistency of the information provided."

Refugee-assist.com [access via ImmigrationProf Blog]

- A "chatbot [that] is designed to provide general answers to questions that refugee/asylees/TPS/parolees and others may have, and in a variety of languages." Focuses on the US.

Related post:

- Thematic Focus: ICTs & Other Technologies (9 Aug. 2024)

Thematic Focus: General - Pt. 1

Opportunity:

CFP: Oxford Monitor of Forced Migration [info]

- The submission deadline has been *extended* to 15 June 2023.

Short pieces:

Amplifying Research Impact 101: Open-Access Data (Samuel Hall Stories, May 2023) [text]

Postcoloniality and Forced Migration Blog Series (Border Criminologies, May-June 2023) 

- New themed series based on a recently published volume. Here is the introductory post. Additional posts can be found here.

Refugee research, policy and practice: some frequently asked questions (LERRN Blog, May 2023) [text]

Where is there scope for migration policy interventions if you can’t change migration policy? (Development Impact, May 2023) [text]

Reports:

Complex Migration Flows and Multiple Drivers: What Do We Know?, Working Paper, no. 5 (Toronto Metropolitan Univ., April 2023) [text]

Decolonizing Migration Studies: The Case of Hospitality, Sanctuary, and Solidarity, Working Paper, no. 3 (Toronto Metropolitan Univ., March 2023) [text]

Defining refugee-led organisations: An analysis of UNHCR's 2023 definition (Kaldor Centre, May 2023) [text]

Towards a better implementation of the UNHCR urban refugee policy, Policy Brief, no. 13 (Toronto Metropolitan Univ., May 2023) [text]

Resource:

IDRC Research Chairs Network on Forced Displacement = Réseau des chaires de recherche du CRDI sur le déplacement forcé [access] 

- "With most of the world’s research on forced displacement produced by institutions in the Global North, the twelve IDRC Research Chairs aim to localize and institutionalize research on forced displacement in the Global South by producing timely and innovative research on forced displacement in the regions and countries most affected by it, where forced migration is a major challenge deeply affecting society at all levels. The Chairs are based in Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Americas." 

Related post:

- Thematic Focus: General (22 May 2023)

Thematic Focus: General - Pt. 1

Opportunity:

Call for submissions: High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement [info]
- Deadline for submissions has been extended to 8 May 2020.

Blog posts & press:

By Refugees, for Refugees: Refugee Leadership during COVID-19, and Beyond (Kaldor Centre, April 2020) [text]

Press Statement on the 22nd Anniversary of the Adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (OHCHR, April 2020) [text]

Support for Internally Displaced People Needs to be ‘Urgently Stepped Up’ (UNHCR, April 2020) [text]
- Interview with UNHCR's Principal Advisor on Internal Displacement.

A World without Refugee Camps? IIED Launches Research on Urban Refugees (IIED Blog, April 2020) [text]

Journal articles:

Ethics & Global Politics, vol. 13, no. 1 (2020) [contents]
- Special issue on "The Ethics of Refugee Prioritization: Reframing the Debate," All seven articles are provided open access.

"The Global Compact Commission: Taking the Necessary Step to Realize the Commitments Behind the New York Declaration," George Washington International Law Review, vol. 51, no. 3 (2019) [full-text]

"Hypocritical Inhospitality: The Global Refugee Crisis in the Light of History," Ethics & International Affairs, vol. 34, no. 1 (Spring 2020) [free full-text]

"Internal Displacement Data Gaps and Challenges: Why They Matter for Policy and Operations," Migration Policy Practice, vol. X, no. 1 (Jan.-March 2020) [full-text]
- Scroll to p. 23.

"Return Migration Around the World: An Integrated Agenda for Future Research," Annual Review of Sociology, vol. 46 (2020) [free full-text]

Related posts:
- Thematic Focus: General - Pt. 1 (26 March 2020)
- Thematic Focus: General - Pt. 2 (26 March 2020)

Tagged Events & Opportunities.

New Issue of FMR

The latest issue of Forced Migration Review (FMR) has been published. The theme of FMR63 is "Cities and Towns" Here is the description:

"Cities and towns are on the frontline of receiving and welcoming people who have been displaced. In this issue of FMR, policymakers, practitioners, researchers, representatives of cities and international city-focused alliances, and displaced people themselves debate the challenges facing both the urban authorities and their partners, and the people who come to live there."

Twenty articles focusing on this theme are included, along with two general articles on other topics.

The Editors' Briefing provides a more detailed overview of the themed articles. In addition, readers can access FMR articles 1) individually, in HTML & PDF formats, 2) via the digest feature, or 3) as a complete issue.

Back issues of FMR are available here.

FMR is an open access publication. It is available online and in print in English, Arabic, French and Spanish. Audio versions of articles are available in English.

Tagged Periodicals.

Regional Focus: Asia

Past opportunity:

Training Course: Refugee Law & Protection in Thailand, Bangkok, 10 September-30 October 2019 [info] [programme]
- Unfortunately, this course has already begun, so the reference is included for information purposes only.

Blog posts & media:

Afghanistan: As Taliban and US Near Peace Deal, It's Far Too Soon to Commit to Returning Refugees (The Conversation, Aug. 2019) [text]
- Note: The peace talks were called off in early September.

From Forced Migration to Forced Return: The Plight of Afghanistani Returnees (RLI Blog, Sept. 2019) [text]

"'It's impossible to do anything': Indonesia's Refugees in Limbo as Money Runs Out," The Guardian, 13 Sept. 2019 [text]

"Life in the Shadows: Thailand’s Urban Refugees," The New Humanitarian, 11 Sept. 2019 [text]

"Roundup: Migration, Displacement, and Afghanistan’s Interlocking Crises," The New Humanitarian, 13 Sept. 2019 [access]
- A "roundup of recent reporting on how interlocking crises affect civilians and humanitarian responses in Afghanistan, where different cycles of conflict have stretched on for more than four decades."

Reports & journal articles:

Mitigating Risks of Abuse of Power in Cash Assistance in Afghanistan (WFP & UNHCR, Aug. 2019) [text via ReliefWeb]

"Options for Protecting Refugees in South Asia," Harvard International Law Journal Online, 2 Sept. 2019 [full-text]

South Asia Short Course on Refugee Rights and Advocacy, Kathmandu, 13-18 June 2019 (APRRN, Aug. 2019) [text]
- Follow link for the short course report.

A Study of Jewish Refugees in China (1933–1945): History, Theories and the Chinese Pattern (Springer, Sept. 2019) [info]

Rohingya crisis:

Blog posts & media:

"Roundup: The Rohingya Refugee Crisis, Two Years on," The New Humanitarian, 23 Aug. 2019 [access]
- "A roundup of our reporting explores the origins and ongoing impacts of the Rohingya crisis in both Bangladesh and Myanmar."

Three Ways Humanitarians Can Support the Rohingya in Bangladesh, Two Years on (ODI Blog, Aug. 2019) [text]

Two Years on, and No End in Sight: How Should We Respond to the Rohingya Crisis in the Medium-Term? (CGD Blog, Aug. 2019) [text]

UNHCR Statement on Voluntary Repatriation to Myanmar (UNHCR, Aug. 2019) [text]

Reports & journal articles:

"Documentation of Human Rights Abuses among Rohingya Refugees from Myanmar," Conflict and Health, 13:42 (Sept. 2019) [open access]

'A New Shape of Catastrophe': Two Years on from the 2017 Rohingya Crisis (UK All Party Parliamentary Group on the Rights of the Rohinga, Sept. 2019) [text via ReliefWeb]

"Qualitative Evidence of Crimes Against Humanity: The August 2017 Attacks on the Rohingya in Northern Rakhine State, Myanmar," Conflict and Health, 13:41 (Sept. 2019) [open access]

Report of the Independent International Fact-finding Mission on Myanmar, UN Doc. No. A/HRC/42/50 (UN Human Rights Council, Aug. 2019) [text via ReliefWeb]
- See also related news release, fact sheet and TNH article.

Related post:
- Regional Focus: Asia (13 Aug. 2019)

Tagged Publications.

Thematic Focus: ICTs & Other Technologies - Pt. 2 (Digital Identity)

Events:

Global Virtual Summit on Digital Identity for Refugees: Envisioning a Digital Identity Ecosystem in Support of the Global Compact on Refugees [info]
- Three virtual events based on specific themes will take place on 21 May, 24 May & 29 May 2019. Follow link to sign-up for participation in the virtual events. A final in-person conference will be held in Canada on 12-13 June 2019.

The official presentations have not yet been announced; however, this submission from the University of South Wales has been posted online.

Publications:

*Blockchain Technology: The Answer to Securing Legal Identity? (ENS Blog, April 2019) [text]

Digital Identity in the Migration & Refugee Context: Italy Case Study (Data & Society Research Institute, April 2019) [text via APO]

Displaced & Disconnected (UNHCR & GSM Association, April 2019) [access]
- "This report focuses on a relatively under-explored, but nonetheless significant barrier to access among refugees and other displaced persons: legal and regulatory requirements mandating that an individual’s ID is authenticated before accessing a mobile connection, bank account or mobile money wallet." Follow link for main report in English, Arabic and Spanish, and 20 country reports.

"How We Can Use Technology to Help Refugees Establish a Verifiable Identity," Forbes, 3 Dec. 2018 [text]

*Legal Identity as a Barrier to Digital Connectivity for Refugees, Policy brief for the World Summit on the Information Society, Geneva, 8-12 April 2019 [text]

Mission Billion: Transforming Countries and Empowering People through Digital Identity, Washington, DC, 12 April 2019 [info]
- Follow link for video.

Recognising Urban Refugees in Jordan: Opportunities for Mobile-enabled Identity Solutions (GSMA Mobile for Development, Dec. 2018) [text via ReliefWeb]

*UPDATED

Related post:
- Thematic Focus: ICTs & Other Technologies - Pt. 1 (7 May 2019)


Tagged Publications and Events & Opportunities.

Thematic Focus: ICTs and Other Technologies

Event & opportunity:

Digital Lifeline? Information and Communication Technologies for Refugees and Displaced Persons, State College, PA, 4 April 2019 [info]

CFP: Global Virtual Summit on Digital Identity for Refugees, May & June 2019 [info]
- Submit written contributions by 22 April 2019.

Publications:

"The Big Data of International Migration: Opportunities and Challenges for States under International Human Rights Law," Georgetown Journal of International Law, vol. 49, no. 4 (2018) [full-text]

Data Responsibility Guidelines: Working Draft (OCHA, March 2019) [text]

Ethical and Practical Challenges of Online Research Interviews (Humanitarian News Research Network, March 2019 [text]

Food ATM: Revolutionizing Providing Food to Refugees (WFP & World Vision, Feb. 2019) [text via ReliefWeb]

"Governments’ Use of AI in Immigration and Refugee System Needs Oversight," LawNow: Relating Law to Life in Canada, vol. 43, no. 4 (March-April 2019) [full-text]

"Humanitarian Innovation Faces Rethink as Innovators Take Stock," The New Humanitarian, 20 March 2019 [text]

Hype or Hope? Evidence on Use of Smartphones & Social Media in Mixed Migration (Mixed Migration Centre, Jan. 2019) [text]

ICTs and Livelihood Supports of Refugees and IDPs, K4D Helpdesk Report (DFID, Nov. 2018) [text via ReliefWeb]

An Overview of ICT for Education of Refugees and IDPs, K4D Helpdesk Report (DFID, Nov. 2018) [text via ReliefWeb]

*"The Politics of Big Borders: Data (In)justice and the Governance of Refugees," First Monday, vol. 24, no. 4 (April 2019) [open access]

Recognising Urban Refugees in Jordan: Opportunities for Mobile-enabled Identity Solutions (GSMA Mobile for Development, Dec. 2018) [text via ReliefWeb]

Web site:

New Technologies and People on the Move: Examining Impact of New Technologies over Migrants and Refugees (Medium) [access]

*UPDATED

Related post:
- Thematic Focus: ICTs and Other Technologies (18 Feb. 2019)

Tagged Events & Opportunities, Publications and Web Sites/Tools.

Events & Opportunities: More Dec. 2018/New Jan. 2019

[Apologies, I am a bit late with this post!]

Call for applications: Winter Short Courses, 20 January-7 February 2019 [info]
- Three courses offered: 1. European Border Externalization and the Transformation of Middle East and North African Host States, 20-24 January 2019); 2. Psychosocial Issues and Interventions for Refugees and Migrants, 27-31 January 2019); 3. International Refugee Law, 3-7 February 2019. Deadline is 20 December 2018.

Call for participation: World Conference on Statelessness and Inclusion, The Hague, 26-28 June 2019 [info]
- Early bird registration rate ends 31 December 2018.

Lecture: State Protection and Internal Relocation, London, 10 January 2019 [info]

Funding opportunity: Request for Concept Notes for NGO Projects Benefiting Afghan Refugees and Returnees [info]
- Proposal submission deadline is 11 January 2019.

CFP: Revisiting Refugee Protection in the 21st Century, Topic for the 2019 Socio-Legal Studies Association Conference, Leeds, UK, 3-5 April 2019 [info]
- Submission deadline is 14 January 2019.

Call for interest to participate: 5th European Migration Forum, Brussels, 3-4 April 2019 [info]
- Submission deadline is 14 January 2019.

Call for participation: Fifth Annual International Refugee Law Student Writing Competition [info]
- Submission deadline is 15 January 2019.

RSC Seminar Series, Oxford, 16 January-6 March 2019 [info]
- Seminars will focus on 1) Refugees in the United Kingdom and 2) Urban Refugees. Three will be held in January 2019.

Lecture: Is It Time to Stop Putting Status Determination at the Heart of the Refugee Response?, London, 23 January 2019 [info]

CFP: Rethinking the “Regional” in Refugee Law and Policy, 4th Annual Refugee Law Initiative Conference, University of London, 3-5 June 2019 [info]
- Submit proposals by 28 January 2019.

CFP: Migration and Poverty, Salzburg, 19-20 September 2019 [info]
- Submission deadline is 31 January 2019.

Related post:
- Events & Opportunities: More Nov. 2018/New Dec. 2018

Tagged Events & Opportunities. 

Thematic Focus: General - Pt. 2

Research & publications:

"Commentary: Unsettling Friendship and Using Friendship to Unsettle," Urban Studies, vol. 55, no. 3 (2018) [open access]
- Commentary on articles included in a special issue on "Urban friendship networks: Affective negotiations and potentialities of care" and how they might address the negative "othering" that occurs towards migrants and refugees.

Five Ways to Improve the World Bank Funding for Refugees and Hosts in Low-Income Countries and Why These Dedicated Resources Matter More Than Ever (Center for Global Development & International Rescue Committee, Nov. 2018) [text]

"Refugiados Urbanos: Política, Polícia e Resistência nas Fronteiras da Didade = Urban Refugees: Politics, Policing and Resistance at Cities’ Borders," REMHU: Revista Interdisciplinar da Mobilidade Humana, vol. 26, no. 53 (May-Aug. 2018) [open access]
- Article text is in Portuguese.

Social Cohesion and Forced Displacement: A Desk Review to Inform Programming and Project Design (World Bank, Nov. 2018) [text]
- See also related Dev4Peace blog post.

Urban Refuge: How Cities are Building Inclusive Communities (International Rescue Committee, Oct. 2018) [text]
- See also related CityLab article.

Vulnerabilities in Urban Protracted Displacement: Exploring the Roles of Space and Time, HLC Operational Practice Paper, no. 4 (Institute of Development Studies, Aug. 2018) [text]
- See also related opinion piece.

Workshop: Beyond Encampment: Managing Mass Migration in an Age of Urbanization, Oslo, 2 Nov. 2018 [info]

Related post:
- Thematic Focus: General - Pt. 1 (7 Nov. 2018)

Tagged Publications. 

Regional Focus: Syria, esp. Returns

Publications:

Displacement, Housing, Land and Property and Access to Civil Documentation in the North West of the Syrian Arab Republic (UNHCR & Norwegian Refugee Council, July 2017) [text via ReliefWeb]

Displacement, HLP and Access to Civil Documentation in the South of the Syrian Arab Republic (UNHCR & Norwegian Refugee Council, July 2017)

"I won't forget this carnage": Civilians Trapped in Battle for Raqqa (Amnesty International, Aug. 2017) [text]

"Thinking Outside the Camp: Syrian Refugees in Istanbul," Migration Information Source, 9 Aug. 2017 [text]

Trash Talk: Turning Waste into Work in Jordan's Za'atari Refugee Camp (Oxfam, Aug. 2017) [text via ReliefWeb]

Thoughts re. Syrians returning home:

It’s Far Too Early to Talk of Return for Syrian Refugees (Chatham House, Aug. 2017) [text]
- See also related IOM statistics.

Not without Dignity: Views of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon on Displacement, Conditions of Return, and Coexistence (International Center for Transitional Justice, June 2017) [text]
- See also related Refugees Deeply comment.

Preventing Forced Return in Lebanon and the Greater Levant (Stimson Center, Aug. 2017) [text]

*"Syria’s War Created Millions of Refugees. Some Might Be Forced to Return Home," Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2017 [text]

Update: Durable Solutions for Syrian Refugees (UNHCR, Aug. 2017) [text via ReliefWeb]

We Must Ask Refugees What They Feel about Returning to Syria (Refugees Deeply, Aug. 2017) [text]

*UPDATED

Related post:
- Regional Focus: MENA, incl. Syria (8 Aug. 2017)

Tagged Publications.

Regional Focus: Asia

"70 Years of the Radcliffe Line: Understanding the Story of Indian Partition," The Diplomat, 19 Aug. 2017 [text]
- See also this blog post for relevant book references and follow this link for freely available related journal articles.

The Future of Forced Migrants in ASEAN (Heinrich Boell Foundation, Aug. 2017) [text via ReliefWeb]

Hope in the Midst of Crisis: Opportunities for Improving Refugee Protection in South-East Asia, Paper presented at Rethinking Governance in an Era of Global Insecurities, Regional Tensions and Rising Nationalism, Melbourne, 17-19 July 2017 [text via ReliefWeb]

"India Says to Deport All Rohingya Regardless of U.N. Registration," Reuters, 14 Aug. 2017 [text]
- See also related HRW article.

Informing Afghanistan Protection Cluster Strategic Priorities for 2017-2018 (Protection Cluster, July 2017) [text via ReliefWeb]

Karen Refugees Wary of Return to Myanmar as Despair Rises in Camps (Refugees Deeply, Aug. 2017) [text]

Mapping the Structure of Well-Being and Social Networks of Refugees: A Case Study of Afghan Refugees in Peshawar, Pakistan (Urban Institute, June 2017) [text]

The Protracted Conflict in Afghanistan: A Protection Crisis Above All  (Protection Cluster, Aug. 2017) [text via ReliefWeb]

The Responsibility to Protect: Afghanistan's Current Situation, Drivers of Migration and Returnees Experience (Edmund Rice Centre, July 2017) [text via APO]

"Thailand's Role in Updating ASEAN Immigration Policy," Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, vol. 38, no. 3 (Sept.-Dec. 2017 [open access]

Towards a Peaceful, Fair and Prosperous Future for the People of Rakhine: Final Report (Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, Aug. 2017) [text via ReliefWeb]
- See also related Reuters news article.

Urban Refugees in Delhi: Self-reliance Can’t be Exclusively Entrepreneurial (IIED, July 2017) [text via ReliefWeb]

Related post:
- Regional Focus: Asia Pacific (16 July 2017)

Tagged Publications.

Regional Focus: Africa

2016 Migrant Profiling Report: Analysis of Profiling Interviews of Migrants Assisted in 2016 through IOM's Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Program in Niger (IOM, Aug. 2017) [text]

The Abuja Action Statement on Protection in the Lake Chad Basin – One Year On (UNHCR, Aug. 2017) [text via ReliefWeb]

Engaging the Gatekeepers: Using Informal Governance Resources in Mogadishu (Tana Copenhagen, March 2017) [text via ReliefWeb]
- See also related Devex news article.

"Human Security and the Relocation of Internally Displaced Environmental Refugees in Cameroon," Refugee Survey Quarterly, vol. 36, no. 3 (Sept. 2017) [open access]

“I Fled Because I was Afraid to Die”: Causes of Exile of Burundian Asylum Seekers (International Refugee Rights Initiative, Aug. 2017) [text via ReliefWeb]
- See also related African Arguments article.

Informal Settlement Managers: Perception and Reality in Informal IDP Camps in Mogadishu (Tana Copenhagen, Aug. 2017) [text via ReliefWeb]

Joint Statement on the High-Level Dialogue between the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (Aug. 2017) [text]

Language Barriers in the Humanitarian Response in North-eastern Nigeria: Initial Assessment (Translators without Borders, Aug. 2017) [text via ReliefWeb]

On the Edge of Disaster: Somalis Forced to Flee Drought and Near Famine Conditions (Refugees International, Aug. 2017) [text]

Rendering South Africa Undesirable: A Critique of Refugee and Informal Sector Policy, SAMP Migration Policy Series, no. 79 (Southern African Migration Programme, 2017) [text]

"A Step Forward in the Protection of Urban Refugees: The Legal Protection of the Rights of Urban Refugees in Uganda," African Human Rights Law Journal, vol. 27, no. 1 (2017) [open access]

Supporting Central African Refugees in Cameroon: Policy and Practice in Response to Protracted Displacement (ODI, Aug. 2017) [text]


Related post:
- Regional Focus: Africa (27 July 2017)

Tagged Publications.

Regional Focus: MENA

Opportunity:

CFP: Forced Migration Review [info]
- Submissions sought for feature issue on "Displacement in the Middle East." Deadline is 23 October 2017.

Publications:

At Any Cost: The Civilian Catastrophe in West Mosul, Iraq (Amnesty International, July 2017) [text via ReliefWeb]

"Feeling Unwanted and Unwelcome, African Migrants Hit by New Tax in Israel," Reuters, 3 July 2017 [text]

Journal of Palestinian Refugee Studies, vol. 7, no. 1 (Spring 2017) [full-text]
- "This edition explored the living conditions of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. A number of writers provide different perspectives on the most recent updates across the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, especially, in light of the influx of Syrian and Palestinian Syrian refugees who arrived to Lebanon in the last few years."

Mixed Migration Trends in Libya: Changing Dynamics and Protection Challenges (Altai Consulting, June 2017) [access]
- Follow link for executive summary and report. See also related UNHCR press release.

Refugee Perceptions in Lebanon: Summary of Focus Group Discussions, Round 2 (Ground Truth Solutions & Mixed Migration Platform, July 2017) [text via ReliefWeb]

Refugees in Urban Egypt: It’s Time to Reassess UNHCR’s 2009 Policy on Refugee Protection and Solutions in Urban Areas (IIED et al., June 2017) [text]

"What Would Happen If Palestinian Refugees Could Return?," +972 Magazine, 7 July 2017 [text]

Yemen, Libya, and 21st Century Migration Challenges (ISIM Blog, June 2017) [text]

Resource:

Displacement Tracking Matrix (IOM) [access]
- In the MENA region, IOM tracks displacement and population mobility in Iraq, Libya and Yemen.

Related post:
- Regional Focus: MENA (23 June 2017)

Tagged Events & Opportunities, Publications and Web Sites/Tools.

Events & Opportunities: More May 2017

Research results: Multiple Crises? The Many Faces of Migration and Reception Systems in the Mediterranean, London, 4 May 2017 [info]
- Register by 3 May 2017.

Seminar series: Refugee Studies Centre, Oxford [info]
- Seminars scheduled in May include: 1) 3 May 2017 on "Refugees and the Politics of Indignity"; 2) 17 May 2017 on "Should Humanitarian Organisations Help with Coerced Repatriation?"; 3) 24 May 2017 on "British and French Deprivation Policies as an Instance of Renationalisation of Citizenship."

Conference: In Search of Cultural Conformity  The New Integration and Migration Policies in Europe, Brussels, 4-5 May 2017 [info]

Job announcement: Part-time Researcher in Irregular Migration, COMPAS [info]
- Apply by 8 May 2017.

Lecture: Our Shared Humanity: Protecting the Rights of Refugees and Migrants, Sydney, 8 May 2017 [info]

Panel debate: Refugees: Are Jobs the Answer?, London, 11 May 2017 [info]
- Will also be live streamed.

Call for proposals: Mapping Statelessness in the United States, UNHCR [info]
- Submit proposals by 12 May 2017.

Job announcement: Three Research Fellows, Migration Policy Centre [info]
- Apply by 14 May 2017.

Summer school: Migratory Flows in the Eastern Mediterranean: The Present and the Future, Athens, 19-23 June 2017 [info]
- Apply by 15 May 2017.

Funding opportunity: NGO Programs Benefiting Urban Refugees in South Africa [info]
- Proposal submission deadline is 16 May 2017.

Conference: The Dynamics of Regional Migration Governance, Florence, Italy, 25-26 May 2017 [info]
- No registration deadline indicated.

Related post:
- Events & Opportunities: Even More April 2017/New May 2017

Tagged Events & Opportunities. 

Thematic Focus: General

Publications:

"Can You Become One of Us? A Historical Comparison of Legal Selection of ‘Assimilable’ Immigrants in Europe and the Americas," Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Latest Articles, 18 April 2017 [full-text via Academia.edu]

The Global Evolution of Travel Visa Regimes, Working paper, no. 134 (International Migration Institute, April 2017) [text]

How Not to Fix the Refugee Crisis – A Response to ‘Refuge’ (Refugees Deeply, April 2017) [text]

An Inside Account of UNHCR’s Urban Refugee Policy (Refugees Deeply, April 2017) [text]

International Dialogue on Migration 2017: Strengthening International Cooperation on and Governance of Migration Towards the Adoption of a Global Compact on Migration in 2018, Geneva, 18-19 April 2017 [info]
- Follow link for agenda, concept note and summary of conclusions.

Photographing a Crisis: A Guide through the Ethics and Considerations of Documenting the Migrant Crisis (Magnum Photos, June 2016) [text]

Refugee Compacts: Addressing the Crisis of Protracted Displacement (Center for Global Development & International Rescue Committee, April 2017) [text]
- See also related blog post and event video.

Refugee Voices (Tent Foundation, Dec. 2016; launched March 2017) [text]
- Results of a comprehensive survey of refugees living in Germany, Jordan and Greece.

Separated Families: Who Stays, Who Goes and Why - Decision-making and Its Consequences for Families Separated by Mixed Migration (REACH, April 2017) [text via ReliefWeb]

Towards a Blueprint for Responding to Urban Displacement (IRIN, April 2017) [text]

Will “America First” Mean Refugees Last? (openDemocracy, April 2017) [text]
- "Regardless of if you look at United States, Europe, or the Pacific, the global asylum system is quickly falling apart."

Resources:

Migrants on the Margins Blog (Royal Geographical Society) [access]
- "The Society’s Field Research Programme, Migrants on the margins, is a three year project involving researchers from UK universities and international research partners. It focuses on the vulnerability and opportunities of migrants in some of the world’s most pressured cities, including Colombo (Sri Lanka), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Harare (Zimbabwe) and Hargeisa (Somaliland). This blog provides updates on the project written by members of the research team."

Migration Research Leaders Syndicate (IOM) [access]
- "IOM is inviting the world’s leading migration researchers to join in sharing their expertise and knowledge in support of the 2018 Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. ... [W]e have asked Syndicate members: 'If you had the chance to provide only three pieces of research and analysis on aspects of (un)safe, (dis)orderly and (ir)regular migration to policymakers, what would they be?'"

Related posts:
- Feature: Understanding Attitudes (13 April 2017)
- Thematic Focus: General (10 April 2017)

Tagged Publications and Web Sites/Tools.

New Issue of Refuge

The latest issue of Refuge: Canada's Journal on Refugee Issues is now available. As explained further in the introduction, the theme is "Power and Influence in the Global Refugee Regime."

Refuge is open access so all articles are freely available!

Contents of vol. 33, no. 1, 2017 include:

• Power in the Global Refugee Regime: Understanding Expressions and Experiences of Power in Global and Local Contexts
• US Leadership and the International Refugee Regime
• Australia as a Powerbroker on Refugee Protection in Southeast Asia: The Relationship with Indonesia
• Power and Responsibility at the Margins: The Case of India in the Global Refugee Regime
• Effecting Change: Civil Servants and Refugee Policy in 1970s Canada
• Les hauts et les bas du financement canadien au HCR: quelle aide et pour quels réfugiés?
• UNHCR’s Origins and Early History: Agency, Influence, and Power in Global Refugee Policy
• Finding Space for Protection: An Inside Account of the Evolution of UNHCR’s Urban Refugee Policy
• The International Organization for Migration (IOM): Gaining Power in the Forced Migration Regime

Also included are four book reviews.

Tagged Periodicals.

Regional Focus: Africa

Despite Rising Numbers of Returnees, Nearly 1.8 Million People Still Displaced in North-East Nigeria (IOM, Dec. 2016) [text via ReliefWeb]

Eritrea: National Service and Illegal Exit, EASO Country of Origin Information Report (European Asylum Support Office, Nov. 2016) [text via Refworld]

Housing, Land and Property Rights for Somalia’s Urban Displaced Women (Norwegian Refugee Council, April 2016) [text via ReliefWeb]

"One-sided Violence in Refugee-hosting Areas," Journal of Conflict Resolution, OnlineFirst, 21 July 2016 [free full-text]
- Note: This article is freely available until the end of Jan. 2017.

Refugees in Africa Faced Bitter Disappointments in 2016 (The Conversation, Dec. 2016) [text]

"Urban Congolese Refugees in Kenya: The Contingencies of Coping and Resilience in a Context Marked by Structural Vulnerability," Qualitative Health Research, OnlineFirst, 25 Aug. 2016 [free full-text]
- Note: This article is freely available until the end of Jan. 2017.

What’s Next for Dadaab: Refugees Face an Impossible Choice (Refugees Deeply, Dec. 2016) [text]

Whither Refugee Protection? (World Policy Blog, Dec. 2016) [text]
- Discusses Kenya's decision to close Dadaab.

Related post:
- Regional Focus: Africa (16 Dec. 2016)

Tagged Publications.

Regional Focus: MENA, incl. Syria

Addressing the Syrian Refugee Crisis: Recommendations for the Next Administration (Brookings, Dec. 2016) [text]

Assessing the Risks of Migration along the Central and Eastern Mediterranean Routes: Iraq and Nigeria as Case Study Countries (DFID & IOM, Dec. 2016) [text via ReliefWeb]

"Detained and Dehumanised": Report on Human Rights Abuses against Migrants in Libya (UN Support Mission in Libya & OHCHR, Dec. 2016) [text via ReliefWeb]

Egypt: Immigration Law Lacks Key Protections (Human Rights Watch, Dec. 2016) [text]

*How a Flow of People Affects the Flow of Water (Nature Middle East, Dec. 2016) [text]

In Cairo, Egypt’s Forgotten Urban Refugees (ISIM Blog, Nov. 2016) [text]

Increasing Vulnerability for the Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: What’s Next?, Policy Brief, no. 2016/03 (Middle East Directions, Dec. 2016) [text]

Palestinians of Syria: Between Displacement and Disappearance (Palestinian Return Center & Action Group for Palestinians of Syria, Nov. 2016) [text]

The Protection Needs of Minorities from Syria and Iraq (Norwegian Church Aid, Nov. 2016) [text via ReliefWeb]

Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon 2016 (WFP, Unicef & UNHCR, Dec. 2016) [text via ReliefWeb]

Where are the Palestinian Refugee Camps? (Borgen Project Blog, Dec. 2016) [text]

*UPDATED

Related post:
- Regional Focus: MENA, incl. Syria (2 Dec. 2016)

Tagged Publications.

New ETDs/Student Papers - Pt. 3

Employing Refugees in Special Economic Zones: A Pragmatic Solution to a Complex Situation or an Infringement of Refugees Fundamental Rights?, Thesis (Univ. of Oslo, April 2016) [text]

Healthcare Access for Syrian Refugees Lacking Legal Documentation in Jordan, Independent Study Project Paper, no. 2372 (SIT Graduate Institute, 2016) [text]

The Normative Development of Internal Displacement, Thesis (Univ. of Leiden, Aug. 2016) [text]

The Role of Communication in the Identification of Gay Refugees & Asylees throughout Migration, Dissertation (Texas Tech Univ., Oct. 2016) [text]

The Socio-Economic Problems Faced by Urban Refugees: A Case Study of Kampala, Uganda, Thesis (Lund Univ., Spring 2016) [text]

Statelessness in Libya before and after the Fall of Qadhafi, Thesis (Leiden University, Aug. 2016) [text]

Sub-Saharan Refugees Finding Space and Place in Rabat, Morocco, Independent Study Project Paper, no. 2379 (SIT Graduate Institute, Spring 2016) [text]

Tagged Publications.

Events & Opportunities: November 2016

IOM Fellowship: Migration and Refugees Studies, American University in Cairo [info]
- Application deadlines are 1 November 2016 for Spring semester and 15 April 2017 for Fall semester.

Funding opportunity: NGO Programs Benefiting Urban Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Thailand [info]
- Proposal submission deadline is 7 November 2016.

CFP: Looking Forward: Migration and Mobility in 2017 and Beyond, 19th National Metropolis Conference, Montreal, 16-18 March 2017 [info]
- Submit proposals by 14 November 2016.

Call for Book Proposals: Asylum in Europe, Intra-EU mobility and New Migration Routes, IMISCOE [info]
- Submit proposals by 15 November 2016.

CFP: Beyond Crisis: Rethinking Refugee Studies, Oxford, 16-17 March 2017 [info]
- Submit abstract/panel proposals by 15 November 2016.

Symposium: Reforming the Common European Asylum System: Towards a Unified, Fair and Effective Policy, Brussels, 16 November 2016 [info]

Conference: European Attitudes to Immigration, London, 16-17 November 2016 [info]
- Ticket sales end 15 November 2016.

Competition: Third Annual International Refugee Law Student Writing Competition [info]
- Submission deadline is 21 November 2016.

Related post:
- Events & Opportunities: More Oct. 2016

Tagged Events & Opportunities.