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- School of Migration Studies
- Winter school on Migration studies 2023
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- Summer School on Migration Studies 2019
- Summer School on Migration Studies 2018
- Summer School on Migration Studies 2017
- Summer School on Migration Studies 2016
- Summer School on Migration Studies 2015
- Summer School on Migration Studies 2014
- Summer School on Migration and Integration 2013
- Summer School on Migration Studies 2012
- Summer School on Migration and Development 2011
- Summer School on Migration Studies 2010
- Summer School on Migration Studies 2009
- Podcast - Aby nebe nespadlo
- Migration and Development
- Labour Migration
- Capacity Building in Migration Management
- Integration of Immigrants
- Consultations and assistance for foreigners
- International Conference "Integration in Schools - Educating the Children of Migrants" (2018)
- Life of Young Migrants in the Czech Republic Through Their Eyes (2018)
- Challenges of Integration – International Conference (2017)
- Active Citizenship: Enhancing political participation of migrant youth (ACCESS)
- Models for Integration and Prevention of Exclusion: Empowering Migrant Youth (iYouth)
- European Local Cooperation for Integration - ELCI
- Untold Stories of migrants living in the Czech Republic
- Integration of foreigners in the field of health care in the Czech Republic (2007)
- INTI 2004: Integration through Information and Training of Public Officials and NGOs (2005-2006)
- Internal Restrictions on the Participation of the Vietnamese and Ukrainian Ethnic Groups on the Czech Labour Market
- Pilot Project Integration of Foreigners and Support to Organizations and Associations of Foreign Communities in the Czech Republic (2003)
- Sharing experience – foreign praxis in integration policy and integration courses
- Website for foreigners At home in the Czech Republic
- Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Human Beings
- Applied Research and Data Collection on Trafficked and Sexually Exploited Women from, through and to Balkan Region (ARTB)
- Current Situation and Security Aspects of Migration of Unaccompanied Minors: exchange of information, knowledge and expertise
- Information Counter-Trafficking Preventive Campaign (1999-2000)
- Pilot Research among Customers of Commercial Sex Services in two Border Regions of the Czech Republic
- Pilot Research of the Environment of Trafficking in Human Beings in the Czech Republic (2004-2005)
- Seminar about IOM Expertise in Counter-Trafficking (2001)
- Unaccompanied Minors
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- A year of solidarity: IOM supports cooperation of Czech and Ukrainian communities in Dobříš
- DTM Report – October – November 2022
- IOM Toolkit on Facilitating Pathways to Inclusive-Cohesive-Societies
- Podcast series about Czech-Ukrainian Communities
- The Key to Connecting the Ukrainian Diaspora in Czechia - Interview with Larisa Lara
- DTM Report - Srpen - Září
- Dobříš - A place where the Czech and Ukrainian communities meet
- IOM Director General welcomes Czechia’s Ukraine response, offers strengthened cooperation
- Temporary Protection Toolkit
- DTM Report - Publication of interim results on the situation of refugees from Ukraine in Czechia
Integration of immigrants
Key Findings and Observations
The process of migrant integration can sometimes generate some degree of public anxiety and at times fear, especially during periods of economic downturn. With unemployment persisting in many countries, migrants are sometimes perceived as competitors for jobs, exerting downward pressure on salaries, and as a burden on the welfare system. However, experiences thus far suggest that these perceptions are largely unfounded. Not only do migrants tend to concentrate in just a few sectors such as construction, domestic services, and health care, but also these sectors tend to be those in which there is a deficit in the local job market, so that migrants most often fill jobs unfilled by the local population. However, negative perceptions can be deeply entrenched and are best dispelled through planned and sustained efforts.
Based on its recent experiences in implementing migrant integration projects in many parts of the world, IOM has found the following interventions useful and effective:
- Dissemination of information in home countries on the rights and obligations of migrants;
- Pre-departure / cultural orientation to travel-ready migrants to facilitate their adjustment to life in a new country;
- Provision of advice and counseling related to services available to migrants in the host country, for example, through migrant resource centres (MRCs); and
- Provision of vocational and language training to reinforce their skills.
In addition, awareness-raising in host countries on the cultural profile of the newcomers and highlighting their potential contribution to the host society, improves the perception and acceptance of the migrants by receiving communities and reduces the risks of discrimination and xenophobia.
Dimensions of Migrant Integration
Migrant integration involves a number of dimensions; these are, economic, social, cultural, political and legal. Ideally, migrants should be integrated in all these dimensions. However, not all host countries are willing and/or able to support migrants in all these. This also varies depending on the status of the migrants in the host country. While much discussion of integration focuses on ensuring migrants’ ability to be gainfully employed and contribute to the local economy, more than this is required if migrants are to be full participants in their host society. And while some aspects of integration may only be relevant to settled migrants, such as certain political rights associated with nationality, other aspects, especially as they relate to migrants present in the territory on a temporary basis, require attention.
Challenges
Some challenges policy makers and practitioners faced regarding migrant integration:
- • What type or level of integration measures need to be provided for temporary / circular migrants? Should there be integration measures for irregular migrants?
- • How to best manage migration and integration in a manner that ensures maximum benefits both for the individual and the society?
- • How to ensure a socio-economic and political environment supportive of the effective incorporation of migrants into the host society?
- • How can the risks of alienation and marginalization of migrants in receiving societies be reduced and how to avoid negative impacts on national security?
Migrant Integration Stakeholders
The responsibility for migrant integration rests with many actors: migrants themselves, origin and host countries, public and private institutions and communities. The experiences of individual migrants are a valuable source of information to aid understanding of the challenges of integration and for developing effective strategies to address these challenges.
Within governments, action is necessary at all levels – national, regional, municipal and local. Migrant integration requires an inclusive approach. Migration requires not only a "whole of government approach" but a “whole of society approach.” The private sector and civil society in general can offer valuable assistance and ideas to facilitate migrant integration. Institutions at the local community level where nationals and non-nationals most often interact, such as schools, marketplaces and banks, are often in the best position to assess and address the particular needs of the community and migrants. Non-state actors therefore complement the efforts of governments owing to their grass roots presence to engage and assist migrants in their daily lives.
Conclusion
Migration does not end with the arrival of a migrant in a foreign country. Migration brings change that impacts on the lives and well being of both migrants and host societies. How to manage such change to the mutual benefit of all is one of the biggest challenges for governments today. It is expected that the challenge will grow with the rising global movement of persons, particularly temporary migration and rapid changes in global labour markets as well as demographic pressures.