Global trends in forced migration: Policy, practice and research imperatives for social work

Abstract

Global forced migration rates are the highest since World War II. This article presents an overview of migration and presents an original argument as to the imperatives for social work. First, global trends are presented and forced migration is conceptualised as an international phenomenon. Second, global responses are explored with a focus on legal and protection frameworks. Finally, existing policy, practice and research gaps related to human mobility and forced displacement are examined, and recommendations for social work policy, research and practice are presented. The contextual influence of the Covid-19 pandemic is considered in this article.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing to Reduce Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Related Symptoms among Forcibly Displaced People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The focus only on the individual, “presents the risk of pathologizing and/or oversimplifying human responses to traumatic events without examining or considering the social context that encompasses those experiences and responses” (Suarez, 2016, p. 142). A multi-tiered response that includes promising therapies such as EMDR, along with interventions that target social network systems, institutions, communities, and societies to enhance their responsiveness to the needs and rights of forcibly displaced people in a socially just, culturally competent manner is also needed (Palattiyil, Sidhva, Derr, & Macgowan, 2021).…”

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“…For several reasons, this paper focuses on potential applications of Ubuntu in social work research with persons experiencing refugee status, particularly in the Global South. First, given social work's hallmark focus on the person-in-the-environment and anti-oppressive ideologies, social workers should play an integral and more prominent role in supporting persons experiencing refugee status and discourse globally (Palattiyil et al, 2021). Second, although the overwhelming majority of persons experiencing refugee status live in the Global South, social work scholarship remains primarily focused on persons experiencing refugee status in the Global North and primarily facilitated by scholars in the Global North (Gonzalez Benson et al, 2021).…”

“…This manuscript specifically focuses on opportunities for applying Ubuntu among social work researchers who work with persons experiencing refugee status in the Global South. The reason for this is two-fold: (1) a growing body of research recommends intentionally pursuing locally-driven social work research, particularly research based on principles of Ubuntu, with persons experiencing refugee status in the Global South (Chigangaidze, 2021;Kalyango, 2021;Mhlanga, 2020); and (2) the overwhelming majority of social work research focusing on persons experiencing refugee status is facilitated by Global Northerners who may be knowledgeable only of Eurocentric theories and methods (Palattiyil et al, 2021).…”

The Mental Health Crisis in Refugee Populations

“…1 Turkey has been hosting the largest population, and the United States has been the world's largest recipient of new individual applications for asylum. 1,2 The ultimate Russian-Ukrainian conflict shed further light on the growing refugee crisis. 3 The crisis is humanitarian, and primary care providers have a significant role in depicting and treating conditions throughout the phases of the refugee journey.…”