IOM : Mapping and research to strengthen protection and assistance measures for migrants with diverse SOGIESC
August 2023
State governments, humanitarian groups, and rights defenders are rallying to support diverse SOGIESC migrants. But here's the catch—research is lagging behind, mainly focused on asylum seekers in Europe and North America, overlooking the broader migrant community.
The study was commissioned by IOM under the Cooperation on Migration and Partnerships to Achieve Sustainable Solutions initiative (COMPASS) to Samuel Hall who conducted a study in the Asia & Pacific region, European Economic Area, MENA, South America and West & Central Africa to support the development of inclusive measures for migrants with diverse SOGIESC to benefit from protection programming across their migration journey, as well as in return and reintegration.
The results are clear: Migrants with diverse SOGIESC have unique and crucial protection needs. Unfortunately, there is a lack of knowledge, services, and appropriate responses for these migrants, partly due to stereotyped expectations about their lifestyles and behaviours. The study also indicates that transgenders are the most vulnerable across different stages of the migration cycle.
Migrants with diverse SOGIESC are not a homogenous group. As a result, stakeholder programmes should add nuance to their programmes and activities including or targeting migrants with diverse SOGIESC and locally contextualise them.
Urgent action is needed! Through our report, we are pushing for inclusive shelters, accessible healthcare, and protection procedures to ensure NO ONE gets left behind. We are also encouraging good practices like partnerships between international organisations, local municipalities and civil society groups should be scaled up to ensure support and care for the community.