International migration is a growing phenomenon involving the international community and Member States in complex dynamics that have a special focus on the protection of human rights. Analyzing migration as a crosscutting topic and understanding the challenges faced both by migrants and Member States is crucial for the development and implementation of national policies compliant with international human rights standards. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs International Migration Report, in 2017 approximately 258 million people resided outside their country of birth (3,4% of the world population). This number has continued to grow over the past seventeen years.
Although there are numerous international legal instruments in place to ensure the protection of the human rights of migrants and refugees, violations of these rights widely occur and affect particularly women and children. Indeed, despite the significant benefits of migration, migrants remain among the most vulnerable members of society and are exposed to discrimination, abuse and exploitation by transnational organized-crime.
In target 10.7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Member States pledge to “Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.” This is a clear indicator of the centrality of the migration phenomenon in the UN Agenda 2030.
On 11 December 2018 the first-ever UN global agreement on a common approach to international migration in all its dimensions was signed in Marrakech. Among the important issues addressed, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration aims to mitigate the adverse drivers and structural factors in the countries of origin, highlights the positive contribute of migration to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda Goals and intends to reduce the vulnerabilities of migrants by protecting and fulfilling their human rights.
On 17 December 2018 the General Assembly endorsed the Global Compact on Refugees, an historic agreement aiming to forge a stronger and fairer response to the refugee movements through more enhanced shared responsibility.
With these considerations in mind, UNICRI, in cooperation with John Cabot University, will deliver the fourth edition of the Summer Course on Migration and Human Rights, a one-week intensive course taking place in Rome from 15 to 19 July, to shed light on current issues related to international migration. More specifically, the curriculum of the course focuses on:
The Summer Course offers professional, legal, social, and academic perspectives through theoretical lectures, roundtable discussions, dynamic case studies, and practical exercises. The faculty of the Summer Course is composed of leading scholars and academics from John Cabot and other universities, representatives of the United Nations system, international human rights bodies and civil society organizations.
In this unique learning environment, participants will have the opportunity to interact with international recognized experts, meet peers and build lasting professional relationships with young professionals and students from all over the world. This intense experience fosters intercultural dialogue and promotes a deeper understanding of some of the world’s most complex and debated issues.
For further information on application process, entry requirements, registration fees and certificate of participation, please visit the How to Apply section or send a message to [email protected].