Human Rights👩🏽✅ Case Studies Flashcards
1
Q
USA - immigration & emigration patterns
A
- 21st century - rapid growth in migrant numbers - recent signs show the rate is slowing
- country of net migration GAIN
- USA = attractive to immigrants because:
- positive immigration policy & green card possibility (becoming a permanent resident)
- employment opportunities for low & high skilled workers
- wage differentials & remittance opportunities
- educational opportunities & service access
2
Q
USA - migration policies
A
- Immigration & Neutralisation Act, governs immigration policy - allows an annual worldwide permit of 675,000 permanent migrants:
- family reunification: 480,000 visas available for family members to join US citizens/legal residents
- migrants with valuable skills: 140,000 visas available - usually sponsored by an employer for a specific job offer
- protecting refugees: visas vary annually - 2013 - 70,000
- humanitarian relief: temporary visas for armed conflict or natural disaster relief
- promoting diversity: Diversity Immigrant Visa Program - 50,000 - random selection for countries with low immigration rates to USA
3
Q
USA - countries linked to the USA by migration
A
- Mexico: 11.5 million Mexicans living in the USA & 1 million Americans in Mexico - growing social & cultural connectivity
- low-skilled Mexicans contribute to US economy by working in agriculture, construction & low-paid services - wages are much higher than in Mexico - remittance opportunity
4
Q
Laos PDR (landlocked LIDC, Southeast Asia - 73% of workers = employed in agriculture) - immigration & emigration patterns
A
- 2013 - 1.3 million Laos-born residents lived abroad - only 20,000 migrants lived in Laos
- reasons for migration to Laos:
- employment opportunities created by government-driven & world bank-funded programmes - many Vietnamese work in construction
- main reasons for emigration to Thailand:
- insufficient land available for farming & periodic droughts - food insecurity
- higher daily minimum wage - 300 baht in comparison to 80
- for families in Laos = remittances = main income source
- low education levels means low-skilled workers - Thailand - insatiable demand for unskilled labour in rapidly growing economy
- migration made easier by:
- familiarity with Thai culture & language
- improved access across Mekong
5
Q
Laos - migration policies
A
- Laos = source country for human trafficking - 36% of pop. were under 15 - vulnerability of younger migrants to forced labour & sex exploitation
—> Champasak United - trafficking of underage footballers for Liberia to Laos - National Plan for Human Trafficking has 3 strands:
- prevention - awareness campaigns, child protection, alleviating poverty to reduce need to migrate
- protection - reintegration of retuning migrants - inc. shelters for women who might need counselling
- prosecution- investigation of trafficking networks & strengthening border officials
6
Q
Laos - counties linked to Laos by migration
A
- Laos-Thailand migration corridor = dominated by outward flow of unskilled Loatians to work in Thailand - they contribute to Thai economy in construction, agriculture, fisheries & factory work
- Laos-Thailand Co-operation Committee established - completion of friendship bridge has strengthened communication & trade - Thailand have funded a large health service development & drugs treat,ent centre in Laos
- counties work together as Mekong River Commission members to manage flooding & economic activities in the basin & hydro-power project
7
Q
Laos - opportunities
A
- economic co-operation with Vietnam has involved 400 investment projects
- migrant remittances = very important to returnees & families lives - 22% of families live below the poverty line - money from remittances is set to purchase simple domestic appliances & agricultural machinery
- political stability = improving between 3 counties
8
Q
Laos - challenges
A
- most economic migrants from Laos = unskilled, limited education, 1st migration they’re under 18 - they’re vulnerable to trafficking, modern slavery & exploitation
- loss of skilled labour eg mechanics & carpenters to Thailand - set to increase if wage differentials remain high & there’s freer movement in the ASEAN community
- Laos garment industry - largest sector of manufacturing employment - growth depends on improved factory working conditions & retention of young female workers who may want to migrate to Thailand, seeking higher wages
9
Q
USA - opportunities
A
- immigrant populations take low-paid jobs which nature Americans find unattractive
- US immigration policy attracts high-skilled & well-qualified professionals eg people from China & India in business & science sector
- most immigrants = young age groups - balances population - USA has declining crude birth rate & ageing pop.
- immigrants = customers - help generate business start up’s & creates jobs - generating wealth
10
Q
USA - challenges
A
- estimated 11.5 million unauthorised immigrants living in USA
- uneven integration progress of immigrant groups into society
- concentrations of immigrant populations - resource supply has become an issue eg adding to water supply demand in Southern California & puts pressure on services
11
Q
What are the 3 main stands to Laos’ National Plan for Human Trafficking
A
- prevention - awareness campaigns, child protection, alleviating poverty to reduce need to migrate
- protection - reintegration of retuning migrants - inc. shelters for women who might need counselling
- prosecution- investigation of trafficking networks & strengthening border officials
