Movement Matters
Asynchronous Session
Defending the Right to Asylum: Emergence of Geneva's Social Movement (1920s-1980s) View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Apolline Foedit
A "social movement for the right to asylum" was formed in Geneva in the 1980s, both to defend the right of asylum newly codified in the 1981 Asylum Act, the first revisions of which, in 1983 and 1986, already showed the restrictive and security-oriented orientation of the latter, as well as to defend the situation of asylum seekers and refugees, against a backdrop of increasing and diversified applications, the growing association of these people with insecurity and crime, and a decline in the protest of former associations. The aim of the research is to look back at the history of this movement. We seek to understand the origins of this movement, and in particular the period between the two world wars and the 1980s. We show that associations were set up and organised during the inter-war period to defend the reception of refugees, and that they were active during the Second World War, a 'dark' period for asylum in Switzerland, as highlighted by the Ludwig report of 1957. After the Second World War, the associations became partners of the State. This consensus was called into question in the 1970s and 1980s. The camp was then split in two: a more protesting camp and a service-providing camp. This research thus shows how the defence of the right to asylum was (re)organised in Geneva in the context of the institutionalisation of associations and the tightening of asylum policies.
The Impact of Migrants’ Remittances on Household Poverty and Inequality: A Case Study of Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province, Afghanistan View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Baqir Khawari
This study has been undertaken to investigate the impact of remittances on household poverty and inequality using OLS and Logit Models with a strictly multi-random sampling method. The result of the OLS model reveals that if the per capita international remittances increase by 1%, then it is estimated that the per capita income will increase by 0.071% and 0.059% during 2019/20 and 2020/21 respectively. In addition, a 1% increase in external remittances results in a 0.0272% and 0.025% reduction in per capita depth of poverty and a 0.0149% and 0.0145% decrease in the severity of poverty during 2019/20 and 2020/21 respectively. It is also shown that the effect of external remittances on poverty is greater than internal remittances. In terms of inequality, the result represents that remittances reduced the Gini coefficient by 2% and 7% during 2019/20 and 2020/21 respectively. Further, it is bold that COVID-19 negatively impacts the amount of received remittances by households thus resulting in a reduction in the size of the effect of remittances. Therefore, A concerted effort of effective policies and governance, and international assistance are imperative to address this prolonged problem.
Working towards Economic Justice: Voices of Service Providers Who Work with Immigrant Latinx Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Seungju Lee
There is a lack of qualitative research about service providers’ perspectives and experiences, particularly around service provision gaps and suggestions to support economic empowerment for immigrant Latinx intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors. Thus, this study documents (a) service providers’ experiences of economic justice-related sources of support for this population; (b) service providers’ views about help-seeking trajectories and barriers among immigrant Latinx IPV survivors to achieve physical and financial stability; (c) service providers’ challenges including structural factors and cultural norms while providing effective services to achieve economic justice for immigrant Latinx survivors of IPV. This qualitative study uses a combination of purposive and snowball sampling methods and semi-structured interviews. Service providers directly working with immigrant Latinx IPV survivors in the U.S. are the sample for this study. The study includes service providers who meet the following eligibility criteria: (a) 18 years or older; (b) currently employed in IPV-related human services setting in a full-time position; (c) have worked for at least 2 years; (d) able to communicate in English. This study aims to contribute to the extant literature about service providers’ lived experiences of service provision around economic justice for Latinx immigrant IPV survivors. Further, findings from this proposed study aim to offer insights into potential social work strategies and policy implications for services to assist financial stability when intervening with immigrant Latinx survivors of IPV. Finally, results from this study offer pointers for social work education and the preparedness of social workers to provide culturally competent services to Latinx populations.
Migration Stressors, Mental Health, and Resource Utilization among Camp Refugees View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Miriam Kuttikat, Hannah George
Refugee pathology research has refined our understanding of the complex transmigration stressors and family health over the past decade. Research studies proved that resource access and utilization could significantly impact refugees’ migration stressors and health. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the availability of accessible resources in the camp to address migration stressors and their health. Given the dearth of information about the adjustment of Sri Lankan refugees in Indian camps, this mixed method paper examines the association between migration stressors, mental health problems, and availability and accessibility of resources among camp refugees. Researchers conducted a quantitative study with a random sample of 120 camp refugee parents and a qualitative study with 35 participants. Researchers used the Brief Symptoms Inventory and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, adapted the Post-Migration Living Difficulties Questionnaire to measure transmigration stress, and quantified the structured resource utilization interviews. Our qualitative and quantitative analyses confirm that transmigration stress is associated with deleterious health outcomes (somatic complaints, depressive symptoms, hostility). Our study also found that resource utilization partially attenuated the relationship between transmigration stressors and health outcomes. The current study’s findings emphasize that focusing solely on pre-migration stress may fail to detect the crucial relationships between transmigration stress and health outcomes among transmigratory refugees. Findings also underscore the urgency to provide adequate, accessible resources to refugees inside the refugee camp that can promote overall well-being.
