Posted
5th September 2001
Racism and Migration
by Alan Marston
from original article by Catherine Tactaquin*
South Africa is hosting a UN anti-racism conference, which will
examine a broad scope of racism-related issues and, as in other
recent world conferences, consider the growing impact of globalization.
The
conference has been controversial from its inception. It has
received a less than warm reception from "Western" nations,
such as the U.S. which has continued its now familiar sophsticated
response to opposition, a walk-out. It has also garnered both
criticism and praise for incorporating various forms of discrimination
under its umbrella. Some believe this broad inclusion undermines
the need to focus on racism, and in particular, on white supremacy.
Others insist that the modern world needs to acknowledge the
many forms of racism and related discrimination, as these problems
take varying forms in different countries and regions around
the world. Several significant issues have shaped the preparations:
the rights of indigenous peoples, reparations and the trans-Atlantic
slave trade, migrants, the situation of the Roma, casteism,
the role of gender, among others. In fact, special sessions
within the preparatory meetings have focused on the "list" of
"victims" of racism -- a significant concern in identifying
not only who has been oppressed, but in acknowledging who has
rights to protection from such oppression.
Criticism
over the treatment of the Palestinians in the Middle East has
been a lightning rod for controversy, and the U.S. has fallen
into line with Israel yet again by pulling out of the conference,
demonstrating a singular lack of judgement of the opinion shifts
in the `rest' of the world.
Debates
have ensued during lead up to the conference about the role
of globalization in exacerbating conditions that fuel racial
discrimination, and in undermining anti-discrimination activity.
Many governments have resisted the introduction of harsh condemnations
of globalization's role in draft conference documents, insisting
on embracing language that notes some of the "negative impacts"
of globalization. But NGOs want this world conference to acknowledge
a direct relationship between globalization, the growth of poverty
and discrimination, and the suppression of rights. In the Americas
preparatory meeting held in Santiago, Chile last December, NGOs
declared that, "States should condemn policies and actions of
transnational corporations, international development and financial
institutions, and governments that, in some cases have resulted
in the worsening of economic, social and cultural conditions
of racially and ethnically marginalized people." These conditions,
say the NGOs, heighten "inequality among and within states,
increase pressure to migrate, and impede efforts to fight racism
and racial discrimination." Similar messages have emerged from
NGO gatherings in other global regions.
Significantly,
the United Nations approved a focus on "xenophobia," or the
fear of foreigners, as an important issue that has emerged throughout
the world as migration has become more widespread. Migration
in particular has become the hotest area of political opportunism
cashing in of people's fears. Participating along with more
than sixty U.S. migrant rights groups will be representatives
from Latin America, Asia, Europe, Africa and elsewhere -- voices
not often present in international gatherings. However, an international
migration caucus of conference participants has been created
to organize migrant rights advocacy, education and networking
both at the NGO Forum and at the governmental World Conference.
These migrant rights activists are working to heighten awareness
about the multiple dimensions of the migration issue, which
has been increasingly shaped by the discussion over globalization.
It is in this context that the migration issue is particularly
relevant and challenging, capturing the intersection of globalization,
race and poverty: as globalization has proceeded, as more people
have been excluded from meaningful participation in the market
economy, and have been denied their economic, social and cultural
rights. Indeed, international migration has become a critical
feature of globalization, and a critically dangerous one.
The
severe breakdowns of economic, political and social structures,
leading environmental destruction among other ills, have made
it more difficult for people to survive in their traditional
communities, or countries. Skyrocketing debt and national budget
deficits have produced fiscal crises in many countries, while
structural adjustment programs, imposed as a condition of international
loans, have undermined social programs and supports - contributing
to out-migration flows from many countries and regions (Redefining
Migration in the 21st Century, by Pat Taran, Network News, Winter
2000.) The modernization of communications and transportation
has actually made it more possible for people to migrate, particularly
for those needing to leave intolerable conditions. The over
150 million people in migration every year are contributing
to a "demographic shift" in countries throughout the world.
At the same time, globalization's impact in migrant-receiving
countries, such as in the United States or in Europe and of
late Australia has stirred economic uncertainties and heightened
racial and anti-immigrant hostilities as predominantly white
native populations seek economic security. Political pressures
have brought about greater restrictions on immigration as well
as on the rights of current immigrants, while immigration enforcement
resources and practices have been enhanced. In turn these policies
and practices have further stigmatized migrants and fueled anti-immigrant
activity and institutional immigration, particularly against
those without immigration documents.
Rude
Facts
One
of every 50 people worldwide is in migration, more than twice
the displaced during World War II. The United States receives
less than 2 percent of the world's migrants and refugees. Trafficking
in people is the fastest-growing business of organized crime
and "the biggest human rights violation in the world." Since
1990, more than 30 million women and children have been trafficked
within and from Southeast Asia for prostitution and sweatshop
labor in "the slavery of our time." Most of Europe, Japan, South
Korea, the Russian Federation, and the United States face declining
working-age populations and need "replacement" migrants to support
their aged. The majority of refugees stay within their own countries
or neighboring regions. Half of all Gaza Strip residents are
displaced (798,400 refugees); 1 in 3 in Jordan (1,518,00); 1
in 11 in Lebanon (378,100); and 1 in 76 in Tanzania (413,000).
In contrast, the ratio is 1 in 427 in the United States (638,000
refugees), 1 in 530 in the United Kingdom (112,000), 1 in 577
in Canada (53,000), and only 1 in 316,750 in Japan (400 refugees).
Some 500,000 undocumented migrants enter the European Union
each year, up to 50 percent of global traffic in immigrants--a
$3 billion business for organized crime networks in Europe.
On average, one migrant dies each day of the year crossing the
militarized U.S.-Mexico border. The U.S. Border Patrol reported
366 migrant deaths in 2000 in California, Arizona, and Texas,
up 57 percent from 1999 -- and the figures for the first half
of 2001 have been even higher. Human rights groups have documented
at least 654 border deaths since 1995. Historical relationships
of colonialism, conflict and trade compel migration. Today's
leading sources of U.S. immigrants--Mexico, the Philippines,
Vietnam, the Dominican Republic, and China -- have deep economic
and military ties with the United States.
Despite
the rise in anti-immigrant activity, the U.S. and European Union
countries have expressed the greatest resistance to expanding
recognized rights for migrants not in regular status -- the
so-called illegals." Australian politicians in the middle of
an election think they're onto a winner by using the current
immigration debacle with Indonesia to whip up nationalistic
support for their tired policies. So the wind, reap the whirlwind
is apparently a piece of age-old wisdom that escaptes them.
Here in New Zealand politicians see gain in being seen to welcome
refugees, good, but the deeper issue of race and exploitation
is still not being dealt with, its still political opportunism.
The
world conference provides a timely opportunity to expand and
to standardize protections for migrants, including those without
legal immigration status. Migrant rights groups have lobbied
hard for the inclusion of all migrants among the lists of "victims"
of racism and xenophobia in all sections of the draft documents,
and have worked to clearly define the protections they should
have. A stumbling block to guaranteeing the rights of migrants
--including those in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
-- is that there is no internationally recognized legal definition
of a "migrant." Thus, while there is an assumption that everyone
enjoys basic human rights -- it is actually not the case for
migrants, as well as other marginalized communities.
*Catherine
Tactaquin is the Executive Director of the National Network
for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, based in San Francisco..
|