• Labour migration
• Migration of skilled workers
  • Migration of skilled workers
  • Health and education sectors

Labour migration and livelihoods

Refugees and migrants in the Mashrek countries (defined as Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria for the purposes of this report) are at risk of unlawful deportation, ill treatment and exploitation. Difficulties accessing basic rights to healthcare, education, housing and work are compounded by lack of political will, an absence of appropriate laws for the provision of formal legal protection, administrative barriers, budgetary and material restrictions, restrictions on civil society organisations and a poor human rights environment in these countries.

This report addresses refugee and migrant protection in two main parts. The first chapter provides an overview of the specific situation of the three largest refugee populations in the region – Palestinian, Iraqi and Sudanese (particularly Darfurian) refugees. The second chapter is an assessment of the main protection gaps facing refugees and migrants in the countries of the region.

The report makes the following recommendations to these different groups:

To the governments of the Mashrek countries: 

• formalise recognition and protection of refugees by acceding fully to the relevant international conventions and protocols, improving national asylum regimes through legal reforms which ensure physical protection and access to independent livelihoods, and provide a clear distinction between rules applying to migrants and those applying to refugees and asylum seekers. In addition, refugee liaison offices should be set up or strengthened within different ministries. 
  
• acknowledge and increase protection of migrants by acceding to international conventions, reform immigration laws to remove criminal penalties for unauthorised migration and ensure all migrants have access to appeal procedures against expulsion decisions. In addition, migrants should be informed of their rights in their own language. 
  
• fighting racism, xenophobia and discrimination through awareness raising campaigns and taking concrete action against discriminatory and racist attitudes.
  

To intergovernmental and international organisations:

• support asylum and migration reform agenda and engage in advocacy efforts directed at the authorities. Coordination between different actors in this area needs to be improved
  
• assist in the creation of national coordination mechanisms to improve assistance delivery and advocacy for refugees and vulnerable migrants, and help authorities by training front-facing officials 
  
• strengthen UNHRC practices and procedures in the region to ensure the maximum number of refugees is recognised. The organisation should also take steps to respond to criticism from NGOs and expert in the area.

To local NGOs:

• improve coordination between social and humanitarian workers on the one hand and human rights organisations on the other 
  
• improve knowledge and understanding of migrant’s situation in their country and international instruments relating to their rights, with special given to migrant women and protecting them from violence and exploitation 
  
• develop outreach programmes and assist refugees in finding employment, and lobbying for improved social rights and access to healthcare and education 
  
• prioritise legal aid and advocacy

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