Vulnerability

Key messages:

• ‘Vulnerability’ is increasingly becoming a commonly used term within the legal and policy discourse on asylum and migration. It serves as a tool that guides the implementation of legal and policy frameworks in a way that addresses specific needs and prevents the emergence of new ones.
• ‘Vulnerability’ has the advantage of contextualizing migration policy, since it draws attention to the concrete experiences lived by migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. 
• ‘Vulnerability’ has hidden exclusionary effects. Such exclusionary effects may become problematic if they amount to a restriction on accessing existing rights. 
• There is no common or systematic understanding of the ‘vulnerabilities’ faced by migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and of their evolution over time, indicating a need for interdisciplinary research. 

References:

• Atak, I., Nakache, D., Guild, E., Crépeau, F. (2018). “Migrants in vulnerable situations” and the Global Compact for Safe Orderly and Regular Migration. Legal Studies Research Paper No. 273/2018, Queen Mary University of London.
• ECRE (2017). Vulnerability in European asylum procedures: New AIDA comparative report. Available at: https://www.ecre.org/vulnerability-in-european-asylum-procedures-new-aida-comparative-report/.
• Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. New York, 13 July 2018, United Nations. 
• IOM (2017). International Dialogue on Migration 2017. Understanding migrant vulnerabilities: A solution-based approach towards a global compact that reduces vulnerabilities and empowers migrants. Background paper. 18-19 July 2017. Palais des Nations, Geneva. Available at: https://www.iom.int/international-dialogue-migration-2017-understanding-migrant-vulnerabilities-solution-based-approach. 
• Médecins du Monde (n.d.): European Network to reduce vulnerabilities in health. Available at: https://mdmeuroblog.wordpress.com/about/vulnerabilities/.
• UNCHR (2011). UNHCR Resettlement Handbook. Geneva, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/46f7c0ee2.html.