Five Issues to Take Away from 2022

We review a very challenging year for migration through five topics that offer an overview of the central debates of 2022.

 

Botpipel

On December 12, 2022, the Haitian diaspora in the United States commemorates the first small arrival of Haitian people in fragile boats, fleeing their country during the Duvalier dictatorship. It marks the beginning of 50 years of crossings, tragedies, but also resistance, solidarity, and new paths for the more than one million Haitian immigrants currently living in the United States. It is timely to examine this Haitian migration, migration policies, and U.S. involvement in Haiti. To bear witness to solidarity with the victims and remember the tragic moments, FOKAL and Haitian diaspora organizations are carrying out different activities, notably the online release of two special programs on Haitian migration. The first program is available at the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2csiCjMBjw&list=PLFURzcge9Cc4tVn4a6-FaNjTEfa4QLoZR&index=9

Although there have been small victories over time, such as disproving the myth linking Haiti with HIV/AIDS and, therefore, prejudice against the botpipel, much more remains to be done, especially in responding to the specific protection needs currently faced by botpipel.

 

Climate change

In an unprecedented move, more than 200 countries agreed to establish a fund to help pay for the devastating impact of climate change on developing countries, after marathon discussions in Egypt in November 2022. Exactly who will finance the fund and how it will operate is not yet known. A 24-member committee, with 10 from developed countries and the rest from developing countries, will meet in March 2023 to recommend the modalities of the fund to be considered at the 2023 COP summit. "Today, the international community has restored global faith in this critical process that is dedicated to ensuring that no one is left behind," said Molwyn Joseph of Antigua and Barbuda, who moderates the organization of small states that has spoken forcefully on the issue. Yamide Dagnet, director for Climate Justice at Open Society Foundations, stated: "After 30 contentious years, delay tactics by richer countries, a new spirit of solidarity, empathy, and cooperation prevailed."

 

Human mobility, access to livelihoods, and violence against women.

Women's mobility in the region and their access to livelihoods are closely linked to: the sexual division of labor in the home and in labor markets; and the violence they experience. In all countries in the region, women on the move can access state services for the prevention of and response to violence, although information about this is not widely disseminated. Access to other state services, such as education, health services, and childcare services, depends on migration status. A recent SPOTLIGHT (UN) report recommends, among other things: (i) improving knowledge about women in human mobility in the region; (ii) strengthening the state response to violence against women and making it accessible to women on the move; (iii) strengthening services for sexual and reproductive health care for women at all stages of mobility; (iv) generating transnational responses to the violence women face; and (v) rethinking repressive and restrictive migration policies.

 

Qatar 2022

For those following football, the 2022 Qatar World Cup produced a thrilling final between Argentina and France. But the other story, about the lives and sometimes deaths of temporary migrant workers in the country, is less known. However, a Guardian cartoonist reported graphically on November 10 about "David," based on an interview with this Ghanaian worker. The story portrays a worker invisible to tourists, who lives in harrowing conditions to support his family. Between the money needed to settle recruitment costs and the bribe required to leave Ghana, David had to spend 18 months repaying loans. In the end he said: "The worst thing about being here is the fear of deportation. We have to be careful not to have problems. It is not my country... But in Africa our work is very hard... At least now I can support my family somehow."

 

Remittances received in the Dominican Republic

"Santo Domingo, DR. The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) reports that remittances received during the January-November 2022 period reached US$8,912.3 million, which suggests that by the end of the year flows of around US$10 billion could be received... In the month of November 2022 in particular, remittances totaled US$787.0 million, registering, for the second consecutive month, a slight year-on-year increase of 0.1%, and compared with the same month in 2019, the year before the pandemic, growth stands at 27%... In that regard, when comparing this November 2022 amount with the average value for the same month in the pre-pandemic period of 2015-2019, which was US$454.6 million, an important increase can be observed. These resources provided by the diaspora undoubtedly have a multiplier effect on consumption, investment, and the financing of the most vulnerable sectors."