Publications: Climate, Employment, EU Asylum Policy, Human Trafficking, Literature Review, Local Integration, Sri Lankan Refugees

Climate Wrongs and Human Rights: Putting people at the heart of climate-change policy (Oxfam, Aug. 2008) [text]

Employment Issues for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in the UK (ICAR, Sept. 2008) [text]

FMO Research Guide: Local Integration (FMO, Aug. 2008) [text]

The French Presidency’s European Pact on Immigration and Asylum: Intergovernmentalism vs Europeanisation? Security vs Rights? (Centre for European Policy Studies, Sept. 2008) [access]

Globalisation, Transnationalism and Diaspora: A policy and literature review prepared as part of ICAR’s Refugee Rights and Responsibilities project (ICAR, Aug. 2008) [text]

"Millions Uprooted: Saving Refugees and the Displaced," Foreign Affairs, Sept./Oct. 2008 [preview]

Trafficking in women and girls: report of the Secretary-General, A/63/215 (Aug. 2008) [text via Refworld]

Travails of Sri Lankan Refugees (South Asia Analysis Group, Sept. 2008) [text]

Posted in Publications.

Climate Change Resources, New...and Less New

The Refugee Studies Centre (RSC) has just released the following trio of resources that discuss the nexus between climate change and displacement.

Forced Migration Review no. 31 (Sept. 2008) [access]
- Articles provide definitions, case studies, possible solutions, and research agendas.

FMO Research Guide (Sept. 2008) [access]
- Provides an introduction to the issues.

FMO Resource Summary (Sept. 2008) [access]
- Provides lengthy list of links to relevant resources, both in FMO and elsewhere

For several additional resources not listed in the aforementioned summary, see:

- Development Research Centre on Migration, Globalisation & Poverty, "Migration and Climate Change Resource Guide" [access]

- Eldis Resource Guide, "Climate Change" [access]

- Human Security, Climate Change and Environmentally Induced Migration (UNU, Institute for Environment and Human Security, June 2008) [text]

- International Crisis Group, "Climate Change and Conflict" [access]

- Preparing for a Warmer World: Towards a Global Governance System to Protect Climate Refugees, Global Governance Working Paper, no. 33 (Global Governance Project, Nov. 2007) [text]

Posted in Periodicals, Publications and Web Sites.

New Issues of AJEM, Citizenship Stud., Dis. Prev. & Mgmt., JIRS, Reprod. Health

Australian Journal of Emergency Management, vol. 23, no. 3 (August 2008) [full-text]
- Mix of articles with several focusing on communication during emergencies.

Citizenship Studies, vol. 12, no. 5 (2008) [contents]
- Mix of articles.

Disaster Prevention and Management, vol. 17, no. 4 (2008) [contents]
- Mix of articles.

Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies, vol. 6, no. 1 (2008) [contents]
- Mix of articles including one on human trafficking in the U.S.

Reproductive Health Matters, vol. 16, no. 31 (May 2008) [contents]
- Special issue on reproductive health in crisis situations.

Posted in Periodicals.

Annual Reports: Country Reports, Failed States, Human Rights/South Asia, Humanitarian Accountability, Religious Freedom

The 2007 Humanitarian Accountability Report (HAP International, August 2008) [text]

2008 Report on International Religious Freedom (U.S. Department of State, Sept. 2008) [text]

Country reports 2007: Belarus, Moldova, Russian Federation and Ukraine (ECRE, July 2008) [text]

Failed States Index 2008 (Foreign Policy & Fund for Peace, July/August 2008) [text]

South Asia Human Rights Index 2008 (Asian Centre for Human Rights, August 2008) [text]

Posted in Publications.

Publications: Asylum/EU, Displacement/Iraq & Great Lakes, Environmentally-induced Migration, Right to Return, UNHCR & NGOs

Great Lakes Pact and the Rights of Displaced People: A Guide for Civil Society (IDMC and IRRI, Sept. 2008) [English text] [French text]

Iraq's Refugee and IDP Crisis: Human Toll and Implications (Middle East Institute, August 2008) [text via Human Security Gateway]

"Persons displaced during conflicts have the right to return," Viewpoint of the Council of Europe Commissioner on Human Rights (Sept. 2008) [text]

Preliminary Findings from the EACH-FOR project on Environmentally Induced Migration (EACH-FOR Project Consortium, Sept. 2008) [text]

Reflecting on the French EU Presidency’s Pact on Immigration and Asylum (EurActiv, Sept. 2008) [text]

Report on UNHCR's Annual Consultations with Non-Governmental Organizations (25-27 June 2008, Geneva, Switzerland) (UNHCR, Sept. 2008) [text]
- See also link to Rapporteur's report.

Posted in Publications.

October Events

A number of conferences are taking place in October, including:

59th Session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme, 6-10 October 2008, Geneva [access]
- Organized by the UNHCR Secretariat.

"Environment, Forced Migration and Social Vulnerability," International Conference, 9-11 October 2008, Bonn [access]
- Organized by EACH-FOR and United Nations University's Institute for Environment and Human Security.

2008 Conference on Refugee Warehousing, 10-12 October 2008, Pittsburgh, USA [access]
- Organized by FORGEPitt (the Pittsburgh branch of the non-profit organization FORGE--Facilitating Opportunities for Refugee Growth and Empowerment) and the Global Studies Department at the University of Pittsburgh.

"Ten Years of Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement," 16-17 October 2008, Oslo [access]
- Organized by the Norwegian MFA together with the Norwegian Refugee Council/IDMC and the Representative on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons/Brookings Institution.

13th International Metropolis Conference, "Mobility, Integration and Development in a Globalised World," 27-31 October 2008, Bonn [access]
- Hosted by the Ministry of Intergenerational Affairs, Family, Women and Integration of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia and its partners

While registration is closed for some of these meetings, the conference web sites offer a number of useful resources in advance of the sessions, such as background reports and related news. Moreover, a rapporteur's report is generally posted after the completion of the conference, often along with abstracts of presentations. Increasingly, conferences are also offering webcasts (video) or podcasts (audio) of the proceedings.

Posted in Events and Publications.

Publications: Climate Change, EXCOM Conclusions, Forced Evictions/Africa, IDPs, Peacebuilding, Protection/Europe, Returnees/Angola

Access to Protection at Airports in Europe (Hungarian Helsinki Committee, 2008) [text]

Evaluation of UNHCR’s returnee reintegration programme in Angola (UNHCR, August 2008) [text]

Forced Evictions and Disability Rights in Africa (GlobaLex, Sept. 2008) [text]

Humanitarian Implications of Climate Change: Mapping Emerging Trends and Risk Hotspots (CARE, August 2008) [text via ReliefWeb]

Listening to the Voices of the Displaced: Lessons Learned (Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement, Sept. 2008) [text]

La protection subsidiaire en Europe: une mosaïque de droits (France Terre d'Asile, Sept. 2008) [exec. summary]

Refugees and the Regional Dynamics of Peacebuilding (Munk Centre for International Studies, 2008) [access via Human Security Gateway]

A Thematic Compilation of Executive Committee Conclusions, 3rd ed. (UNHCR, August 2008) [text]

Posted in Publications.

More New Issues: Disasters, EJML

Disasters, vol. 32, no. 3 (Sept. 2008) [contents]
- Mix of articles.

European Journal of Migration and Law, vol. 10, no. 2 (2008) [contents]
- Mix of articles, including one on the detention of asylum-seekers.

Posted in Periodicals.

Conference: Building a Europe of Asylum

A conference was held in Paris on 8-9 September 2008 with the aim of preparing for the next phase of the Common European Asylum System. Called "Building a Europe of Asylum," participants included ministers from the 27 Member States of the European Union, the European
Commission, the European Parliament; representatives from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration; and civil society advocates.

A brief report of the conference is now available, along with texts of speeches by the vice president of the European Commission, the High Commissioner for Refugees, and the Secretary-General of ECRE.

Posted in Events and Publications.

New Issues of Childpsych Clinics, GILJ, IJRL, JEMS, WAN

Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, vol. 17, no. 3 (July 2008) [contents]
- Special issue on "Refugee Mental Health."

Georgetown Immigration Law Journal, vol. 22, no. 3 (Spring 2008) [contents]
- Mix of articles.

International Journal of Refugee Law, vol. 20, no. 3 (Oct. 2008) [contents]
- Includes articles on non-refoulement, property restitution, asylum in the Western Balkans,

Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, vol. 34, no. 8 (2008) [contents]
- Special issue on "Ethnic Minorities' Cultural Practices as Forms of Political Expression."

Women's Asylum News, no. 77 (Aug./Sept. 2008) [text via Refworld]
- Mix of articles.

Posted in Periodicals.

Forced Migration Guide

For any new researchers out there, I have compiled a guide to information resources relating to refugees and forced migration. It is available as a wiki at http://forcedmigrationguide.pbwiki.com.

You can use the guide in two ways. First, read through the chapters just like you would a regular text. Part one begins with an introduction to the concept of “forced migration” that includes a review of forced migration categories, their legal or policy bases, the principal assistance organizations, and the academic perspective on forced migration definitions. The second part of the guide presents a basic framework for conducting forced migration research both in libraries and on the Internet. It introduces key search concepts and principles to consider in any research undertaking, then describes resources that can be used 1) as starting points for research, 2) to help expand research, and 3) to support research. Part three highlights key information sources in forced migration, such as scholarly journals, reports and books, and discusses strategies for finding additional research literature through databases, library catalogues, search engines, and people.

Second, access the information resources described in the guide either by:

• type of source (e.g., bibliographies, periodicals, glossaries, etc.);
• specific index term (e.g., climate, culture, refugee impact, etc.);
• broad subject category (e.g., asylum/legal protection, mental health, etc.);
• region (if applicable);
• language (if applicable); OR
• using the search function (for example, search on an author or a keyword that is not included as an index term or subject category).

So why a wiki? Basically, it's an easy way to set up a database online. I have no technical experience, but using pbwiki.com, I was able to create over 450 pages of narrative text and bibliographic descriptions, and inter-link them in such a way that - hopefully - makes the guide easy and intuitive to use. I can also regularly update the guide, as well as quickly make corrections to URLs and other bibliographic details.

Hope you find the guide useful!

Posted in Web Sites/Tools.

Children and Armed Conflict

Several publications have appeared recently that focus on the impact of armed conflict on children, particularly in the area of mental health.

Annual report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, A/HRC/9/3 (Human Rights Council, June 2008) [text via Refworld]

Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, A/63/227 (UNGA, August 2008) [text via UN Pulse]

From a special issue of International Review of Psychiatry that considers the “Global Perspective on Child and Adolescent Mental Health”:

“The mental health of children affected by armed conflict: protective processes and pathways to resilience,” International Review of Psychiatry, vol. 20, no. 3 (June 2008) [abstract]

“Responding to the needs of children in crisis,” International Review of Psychiatry, vol. 20, no. 3 (June 2008) [abstract]

From a special issue of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America that considers “Refugee Mental Health”:

“Political Violence and Development: An Ecologic Approach to Children in War Zones,” Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, vol. 17, no. 3 (July 2008) [abstract]

“Testimonials, Narratives, Stories, and Drawings: Child Refugees as Witnesses,” Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, vol. 17, no. 3 (July 2008) [abstract]

Posted in Publications.

Research Papers: IDPs/Darfur, Refugees/Mail, Refugees/South Africa, Relief & Religion, Urban IDPs

Barriers to Asylum: The Marabastad Refugee Reception Office (Forced Migration Studies Programme, August 2008) [text]

Conflict, Arms, and Militarization: The Dynamics of Darfur’s IDP Camps, HSBA Working Paper no. 15 (Small Arms Survey, Sept. 2008) [text]

The ‘Humanitarian Frontline’, Development and Relief, and Religion - What Context, Which Threats and Which Opportunities?, Working Paper no. 10 (Conflict Research Group, Univ. of Ghent, July 2008) [text via ReliefWeb]

Internal Displacement to Urban Areas - the Tufts-IDMC Profiling Study, Khartoum, Sudan (Feinstein International Center & IDMC, August 2008) [text]

Opportunity and conflict: the impact of a refugee influx on decentralisation in Mali, New Issues in Refugee Research Paper no. 163 (UNHCR, Sept. 2008) [text]

Posted in Publications.

Publications: Climate Change, EXCOM, Human Trafficking, Protection/Migrants, Remittances, Repatriation

Conflict-induced migration and remittances: exploring conceptual frameworks, RSC Working Paper, no.47 (RSC, August 2008) [text]

Review of the U.S. Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons 2008 Trafficking in Persons Report (The Protection Project, Summer 2008) [text]

Seeing People Through the Trees: Scaling Up Efforts to Advance Rights and Address Poverty, Conflict, and Climate Change (Rights and Resources Initiative, July 2008) [text via Human Security Gateway]

State, Nation, Citizen: rethinking repatriation, RSC Working Paper, no. 48 (RSC, August 2008) [text]

Thematic Compilation of Executive Committee Conclusions, 3rd ed. (UNHCR, August 2008) [text]

Towards a ‘soft law’ framework for the protection of vulnerable migrants, New Issues in Refugee Research Working Paper, no. 162 (UNHCR, August 2008) [text]

Posted in Publications.

Glossaries: Disasters, Humanitarian Assistance, Refugees & Migration

Several glossaries have recently been issued:

Glossary of Humanitarian Terms (ReliefWeb, Aug. 2008) [text]
- Compilation of terms selected from other glossaries; see also their listing of other humanitarian glossaries.

People on the Move: Handbook of Selected Terms and Concepts (Hague Process on Refugees and Migration, July 2008) [text]
- Developed for the general public/civil society to raise awareness, to inform policy responses, and to promote greater accuracy in language. Terms were elaborated in consultation with international experts (list is provided in the handbook).

Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters. Annex I: Glossary (International Law Commission, Feb. 2008) [text]
- Addendum to a study presented to the International Law Commission that "provides an overview of the existing legal instruments and texts applicable to a variety of aspects of disaster prevention and relief assistance, as well as of the protection of persons in the event of disasters, focusing primarily on natural disasters" (UN Pulse).

Posted in Publications.

New UNHCR Publications & Pages

Publications:

Reports and Documents for the 59th Executive Committee Plenary Session (August 2008) [access]
- The actual meetings are scheduled for 6-10 October 2008.

Selected Documents Relating to National Security and Counter-Terrorism Relevant to International Refugee Protection (UNHCR, July 2008) [text]

UNHCR Recommendations for the Ministerial Conference of the Euro-African Process on Migration and Development (Paris, 20-21 October 2008) (July 2008) [text]

UNHCR Statement on the "Ceased Circumstances" Clause of the EC Qualification Directive (August 2008) [text]

Web pages:

The UN Human Rights System [access]
- "Deals specifically with the human rights mechanisms within the United Nations, and with UNHCR's involvement with the issue."

UNHCR and Human Trafficking [access]
- Provides access to policy guidelines and working papers.

Posted in Publications and Web Sites.

Publications: Asylum Stats./UK, Disasters, French IDP Manual, Iraq, Olympics/Forced Evictions, Roma/Forced Evictions

Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2007 (Home Office, August 2008) [text]

Forced Evictions and the Right to Housing of Roma in Russia (Intl. Fed. for Human Rights, July 2008) [text via Refworld]

The Looming Crisis: Displacement and Security in Iraq (Brookings Institution, August 2008) [text]

Manuel pour la protection des déplacés internes (IASC, 2008; English version issued earlier) [text via Refworld]

One World, Whose Dream? Housing Rights Violations and the Beijing Olympic Games (COHRE, July 2008) [text]

Protection of persons in the event of disasters, A/CN.4/590, 11 Dec. 2007 (International Law Commission, 60th Sess., 5 May-6 June and 7 July-8 August 2008) [access via UN Pulse]

Posted in Publications.

Publications: Climate Change, Disaster IDPs, Family Reunif., HR Field Officers, IDPs/Kenya, IDPs/Zimb., Protection, Sudanese/Uganda, Unacc. Minors/UK

The Climate Change-Displacement Nexus (Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement, July 2008) [text]

For Disaster IDPs: An Institutional Gap (Brookings Institution, August 2008) [text]

Guiding Principles for Human Rights Field Officers Working in Conflict and Post-conflict Environments (Univ. of Nottingham, July 2008) [text via ReliefWeb]

The Many Faces of Displacement: IDPs in Zimbabwe (IDMC, August 2008) [text]

Moving Beyond Relief: The Challenges of Settling Kenya's Internally Displaced (USIP, August 2008) [text]

Northern Uganda: International Support for Sudanese Refugees Still Required (Refugees International, August 2008) [text]

Promoting the emotional wellbeing and mental health of unaccompanied young people seeking asylum in the UK (Thomas Coram Research Unit & Institute of Education, University of London, July 2008) [text]

Protection Work: from Concept to Practice - Strengthening CSOs Engagement on Protection in Conflict and Humanitarian Emergencies (ActionAid, July 2008) [text via ReliefWeb]

"Refugees must be able to reunite with their family members," COE Commissioner for Human Rights Viewpoint (Council of Europe, August 2008) [text]

Posted in Publications.

Addendum to New Issues: JRS

The latest issue of the Journal of Refugee Studies is now available: vol. 21, no. 3 (September 2008). Articles focus on displacement resulting from the Iraq war, refugee returns, integration, linking asylum seekers and host communities, predicting forced migration, peace education, and refugee business. Nine book reviews are also included.

Posted in Periodicals.

New Issues of AJEM, Conflict Tr., HR Brief, HRQ, Hum. Sec. J., IJMHSC, Intervention, JEMS, JMRI, RSQ, TWQ

Australian Journal of Emergency Management, vol. 23, no. 2 (May 2008) [full-text]
- Mix of articles.

Conflict Trends, no. 2008/2 [full-text]
- Mix of articles.

Human Rights Brief, vol. 15, no. 3 (Spring/Summer 2008) [full-text]
- Mix of articles.

Human Rights Quarterly, vol. 30, no. 3 (August 2008) [contents]
- Includes articles on Darfur and sexual violence in Bosnia and Rwanda.

Human Security Journal, no. 7 (Summer 2008) [full-text]
- Focus is on military interventions.

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol. 4, no. 1 (July 2008) [contents, sample full-text article]
- Focus is on refugees and asylum-seekers; free sample article provided: "Human Rights and Access to Psychiatric Care for Adult Asylum Seekers: Guidelines to Improve Care."

Intervention: International Journal of Mental Health, Psychosocial Work and Counselling in Areas of Armed Conflict, vol. 6, no. 2 (July 2008) [contents]
- Mix of articles.

Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, vol. 34, no. 7 (2008) [contents]
- Special issue on "Diasporic Tensions: The Dilemmas and Conflicts of Transnational Engagement."

Journal of Migration and Refugee Issues, vol. 4, no. 2 (2008) [contents]
- Two articles on RSD in Australia and applying the refugee convention in Hong Kong.

Refugee Survey Quarterly, vol. 27, no. 2 (2008) [contents]
- Focus of this issue is "Asylum and Islam."

Third World Quarterly, vol. 29, no. 6 (2008) [contents]
- Mix of articles including several on poverty reduction.

Posted in Periodicals.