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While the prevalence of non-communicable disease risk factors is understood to be higher among migrants than for people born in host nations, little is known about the dementia risk profile of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. This systematic review examines published literature to understand what is currently reported about 12 identified modifiable risk factors for dementia among migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers residing in Australia. Three literature databases (PubMed/CINAHL/MEDLINE) were systematically searched to find articles reporting excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury, air pollution, lack of education, hypertension, hearing impairment, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, and limited social contact in Australia's migrant, refugee and asylum seeker population samples. Papers were systematically reviewed following PRISMA guidelines. A total of 763 studies were found, of which 676 articles were excluded, and 79 articles remained. Despite wide variability in study design, size and purpose, the prevalence and correlates of modifiable risk factors of dementia appears markedly different among the studied samples. Compared with Australian-born participants, migrant samples had a higher prevalence of depression, social isolation, physical inactivity and diabetes mellitus. Insufficient information or conflicting evidence prevented inference about prevalence and correlates for the remaining dementia risk factors. A better understanding of the prevalence and correlates of modifiable dementia risk factors is needed in Australia's migrant, refugee and asylum seeker populations. This information, together with a deeper understanding of the contextual and cultural contributing factors affecting people who arrive in Australia through differing pathways is needed before preventive interventions can be realistically targeted and sensitively implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Estudios Internacionales Mediterraneos is the property of Taller de Estudios Internacionales Mediterraneos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article examines the intertextuality of asylum documents by analysing the links between the documents in various stages of the process. The paper argues that the asylum process materialises in asylum documents and that these documents are inherently intertextual. Thus, they create intertextual chains, that is, they are based on previous documents, which in turn become sources of subsequent documents, thereby creating new links to the chain. The article traces two asylum cases in Finland from the asylum interview to the appeal process while paying special attention to recontextualisation, inclusion and exclusion, assumptions, and absences. The analysis also shows how the inclusions and exclusions can be used in recontextualisation, how the assumptions and absences intertwine with one another, and what kind of consequences these may have for an asylum process. The paper provides an opening in discussing how asylum documents are formed as intertextual chains and how they can be reformed in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper studies the influence of linguistic proximity on the labour market outcomes of the asylum population. Asylum seekers are randomly assigned to a location upon arrival in Switzerland. Switzerland is divided by the dominant language spoken in each municipality, either German or Romance (French and Italian) languages. Using an administrative dataset, I compare the outcomes of asylum seekers from different countries from 2010 to 2014. I find that linguistic proximity increases employment, especially among the earlier arrival cohorts. I find neither discernible effect of proximity to English on economic integration nor differences in outcomes across language regions. These findings provide descriptive evidence in support of acquiring local languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refugees and asylum seekers often confront particular challenges when accessing essential services in host countries. The difficulties these vulnerable groups face in meeting educational needs are documented in numerous studies. Although Romania experienced mainly transit migration, it is recently becoming a destination for refugees and irregular migrants. Most people entering the country are young or minors, and access to education is crucial for their economic future and a successful integration process. The present paper primarily explores the challenges and difficulties asylum seekers and people with refugee backgrounds experience in accessing educational services in Romania. It is framed within an interpretive paradigm using qualitative interviews with asylum seekers, people with refugee backgrounds, and NGO representatives to collect data. This exploratory research is designed on thematic analysis: four themes and eight subthemes were identified, capturing participants' perceptions about the Romanian education system and their barriers to accessing education programs. The findings suggest that access to education for refugees and asylum seekers was restricted primarily by language-related or bureaucratic and legal obstacles. Therefore, efforts should be made to raise awareness among the general population and specialised educational institutions. Additionally, creating more opportunities for interactions between people of different backgrounds can alleviate the persisting inequalities experienced by this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its long history of resettling refugees, Australia's acceptance of asylum seekers continues to attract considerable debate and division. This is exacerbated by news coverage that constructs people seeking asylum along a "threat" versus "victim" binary. As most Australians lack direct experience with people from asylum seeking backgrounds, media discourse plays a pivotal role in societal understandings of the issue. This paper discusses research combining Critical Discourse Analysis with a cultural studies Audience Reception epistemology to examine how 24 Western Australians respond to news representations of asylum seekers. Participants drew upon their own perspectives when discussing Australian coverage, highlighting the importance of accounting for audiences' ideological positioning when examining their perspectives on news discourse. While some accepted dominant constructions of asylum seekers as a "threat" and argued that the "victim" narrative is emotionally manipulative, others rejected both tropes, positing that the former legitimises asylum seekers' exclusion while the latter portrays them as deficient and agentless. These findings are discussed with consideration of their implications - in both a practice and scholarly context—demonstrating the value of applying critical discourse methods in audience reception research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis paper examines the housing trajectories of complete cohorts of asylum migrants in Switzerland. It emphasizes the logistics of housing allocation by local authorities and how it shapes individual opportunity structure. We use full-population register data and analyse one key transition: the transition out of collective centre assigned upon arrival to the private and subsidized housing sectors. Event history models show the association between individual and contextual factors and the speed of access to private housing. Despite the quasi-autonomous management of refugee housing by region, priority rules regarding access to private housing were found to apply across the country. When choosing between different profiles, women, older asylum migrants, married individuals, and members of larger national groups are favoured in obtaining access to private housing. Nevertheless, the time spent in collective centres largely depends on the region to which a claimant is assigned, pointing to the minimal agency asylum migrants have during their first years of residence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMigration process is a well-known risk factor for a number of mental disorders, particularly psychotic, trauma-related and major mood disorders. However, refugees and asylum seekers (RAS) often face several challenges in accessing mental health facilities, leading to treatment delays, resulting in worse prognosis and increased risk of referral to the emergency departments or receiving coercive measures, including involuntary hospitalizations in the psychiatric settings. This review aims to delineate the prevalence of coercive measures within the RAS population and identify potential predictors for such interventions, in order to highlight possible preventive strategies. The relevant PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched for papers. Twenty-three articles were included in the review. Our findings highlight that the RAS population is at higher risk of being coerced compared to the native population due to clinical factors, cultural differences and the many barriers to the access to mental health services. Since coercive measures are often harmful and lead to a worse clinical outcome and possible (re)traumatization of patients, specific strategies to prevent this phenomenon are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically examines the placement of people seeking asylum in temporary accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is based on a 14-month collaborative ethnography conducted between 2020 and 2022 with asylum seeking individuals in Glasgow. While moves to temporary accommodation were framed by state authorities and private firms as providing a "safe environment" from COVID-19, we show how these relocations amounted to a racialised process which constructed our participants as "undeserving" and "unworthy" of protection and care during a period of crisis. Our analysis highlights how this racialisation took place not only on a policy level but also in practice through everyday encounters with private provider staff. Advancing the literature on asylum housing and dispersal through new theoretical and empirical contributions, we argue that the rise of temporary forms of asylum accommodation can be understood as constitutive of racial modes of belonging within a regime of differential humanity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While "good refugee" stories have the potential to soften attitudes toward forcibly displaced people, there are hidden implications associated with this construct that must be considered. Based on 60 qualitative interviews with asylum seekers and refugees, this paper examines the ways forced migrants adopt and reproduce "good refugee" discourses that unintentionally position their belonging as contingent upon upholding narrowly defined, and arbitrary, ideals about deservingness. By critically analysing this discourse, we highlight the importance of reconsidering the construction of refugees' deservingness along moral and neoliberal lines and instead present a case for approaches that focus on rights‐based, humanitarian grounds for refugee resettlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refugee and asylum seeker children in Indonesia have experienced exclusion and inequitable education. This paper, therefore, examines what are the gaps between International and Indonesian national laws on the right to education and its implementation in order to demonstrate educational exclusion and inequity. Subsequently, it scrutinizes the reasons why the inclusion and equity in the education of refugee and asylum seeker children should have been promoted in Indonesia. This paper examines international and national (Indonesian) documents (namely official law provisions, academic works, and research papers) and interviews with 13 informants in Jakarta and Bogor for data analysis. The findings reveal that the Indonesian national laws related to the right to education and its implementation have not been adequately recognized and exercised in accordance with the international laws. This paper argues that the Indonesian government should take into consideration the inclusive and equitable education for refugee children because these children are subject to an educational emergency. Moreover, the children could play some key roles in social, cultural, political and economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of research that led to change activism in support of asylum seeker rights in Stoke-on-Trent in the UK. In 2018, the Government disbanded localised asylum bail reporting procedures leading to asylum seekers based in Stoke-on-Trent having to travel to Salford (approximately 100-mile-round-trip) for Home Office reporting. Interview research with 19 paid or unpaid professionals working with, or on behalf of, asylum seekers at operational and strategic levels provided evidence of significant issues faced by asylum seekers based on this policy and procedure change. Poor mental health, racism, increased poverty and gender inequality, modern slavery and exploitation risks and children's education were compromised and exacerbated by changes to reporting proceedings. Evidence also demonstrated the changes to reporting arrangements led to resource implications for local services in Stoke-on-Trent and the Home Office itself. Findings were suggestive of Human Rights, Equality and Public Health concerns, alongside highlighting practice that stigmatises victims in a criminogenic way. Reinstating localised reporting was supported by all participants and researchers advocated for the Home Office to also consider tele-reporting options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the link between organized crime and Italy's publicly funded asylum seekers' reception facilities. We gather detailed municipal-level data on the location of mafia activities and Protection System for Asylum Seekers and Refugees (SPRAR)-type reception centres, and provide evidence of how the local presence of mafia increases the likelihood of hosting reception facilities. Statistical evidence and in-depth expert interviews suggest that organized crime correlates with less transparent tendering procedures in the set-up of such centres, while hosting activities increase after local governments are infiltrated by mafias. Overall, results underscore the importance of measures aimed at contrasting organized crime, especially at times of 'crises' when public policy is subject to 'states of exception'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To date, few assessment instruments have been developed to quantitatively measure the mental health status of migrant populations specifically. This paper describes the development and preliminary assessment of the 'Good Life in the Community Scale' (GLiCS). GLiCS is a wellbeing measure for migrant women in high-income settings that was coproduced with experts by experience across two phases. Methods: The study used a mixed-methods approach and was composed of two phases. Phase I: 88 initial items generated using qualitative data collected in a previous study were reduced to 42 through consultation with expert advisory panels, based on whether each item was considered understandable and relevant Phase II: these 42 items were piloted with a sample of migrant women (N = 109). A preliminary exploratory factor analysis was conducted using Oblique rotation. Internal consistency was measured using McDonald's ω. Convergent validity was tested by correlating the GLiCS with the Oxford Capabilities Questionnaire Mental Health (OxCAP-MH), WHO-5 wellbeing index and Objective Social Outcomes Index (SIX). Incremental validity was tested using hierarchical regression analysis to ascertain the effect on the WHO-5 wellbeing index of: age, migration status, SIX, OxCAP-MH and GLiCS. Known groups validity, the ability a measure has to discriminate between groups likely to differ on the variables of interest, was tested between the different migrant categories using a simple between subjects ANOVA. Results: Exploratory factor analysis confirmed a 17-item (three-factor: (i) access to resources, (ii) belonging and contributing, (iii) independence) scale with high internal consistency (McDonald's ω = 0.91). Convergent and incremental validity were also evidenced. Conclusion: The GLiCS has demonstrable good internal consistency and construct validity, and it presents a promising wellbeing measure for better understanding the experience of migrant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the criticisms and support factors of the migratory experience of a group of asylum seekers (ASs) hosted in an Italian reception center. Starting from a psychosocial approach that gives importance to the intertwining of the personal history and context, the present study aims to explore the meaning that ASs give to their origins, the relationship of ASs with the host context and with professionals of the refugee centres, along with the representation of the Future. We conducted 27 semi-structured deep interviews with 9 male ASs with an average age of 24,4 years. In line with the research goals, we carried out an analysis of pencil-and-paper content using the interpretative-phenomenological-analysis. Three different types of refugee experience emerged: persecutory, ambivalent and integrated. The three conditions identified can help professionals to better understand the different experiences of ASs, allowing them to develop more effective interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution and role of psychologists, psychiatrists or mental health practitioners in working alongside forced migrants may take many forms. The guidance on which this paper is based, came about when several members of the British Psychological Society (including those with lived experience and insight and those who had set up services); became aware of the need for good practice guidance for clinicians working with refugees, asylum seekers including forced migrants across Britain. These guidelines cover a range of areas where clinicians work with individuals in clinical contexts, schools, nurseries, colleges and within community organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Conducting research in hard-to-reach populations such as applicants for international protection (AIPs) brings along a number of research challenges. This is especially true for sexual violence (SV) research. Methods: We developed a study design with the intent to reach AIPs in a randomized and anonymous manner including potential illiterate respondents as well, while avoiding as much bias as possible. However, this method was developed just before the entry into force of the new European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), upon which important new research challenges emerged. Results: This paper describes the original study design developed to estimate SV prevalence in AIPs in Belgium. We discuss the impact of the GDPR on the recruitment strategy applied to conduct a survey on SV in a randomly selected sample of AIPs, the adapted approach to conduct the study beyond GDPR and lessons learned for future research on sensitive topics in hard-to-reach populations such as AIPs. Conclusion: To achieve reliable prevalence numbers and provide high-quality data on SV in AIPs while respecting the GDPR regulations, studies will require an approach that has become significantly more time consuming and resourceintensive to implement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germany has undergone a significant migration policy shift since the early 2000s. This paper examines the total employment effect of immigration during the liberalization of migration policies from 2005 to 2018 using a regional approach. A set of methods, along with static and dynamic macro-econometric models, were applied on a balanced panel formed by a unique and first-hand-collected data for 156 statistical regions based on the definition of the German Federal Employment Agency. We find suggestive evidence that there has been a significant adverse impact of new immigrants on the overall employment rate, and this negative effect is substantially larger than those reported in previous studies on the employment effect of immigration in the German labor market. In a further step, we divide our sample into two subsamples to capture the employment effect of the massive humanitarian inflows that began in 2015. Our results indicate that, in addition to the new immigrants' lower rate of integration into the local labor markets, a sudden influx of asylum seekers may possibly lead to a substantial fall in the employment rates, because asylum seekers are not immediately allowed to work in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The mental health benefits of physical activity and exercise are well‐documented and asylum seekers who may have poor mental health could benefit from undertaking recommended levels of physical activity or exercise. Digital mobile applications are increasingly seen as feasible to precipitate behaviour change and could be a means to encourage asylum seekers to increase their levels of physical activity and exercise. This paper reports on a study that aimed to assess the feasibility of asylum seekers using the digital animation as a tool to change behaviour and increase their physical activity and exercise levels. A feasibility study underpinned by the principles of the COM‐B behaviour change model was undertaken in West Yorkshire, UK, in 2019. Thirty participants were purposively recruited and interviewed. Peer interpreters were used as necessary. Deductive thematic analysis was undertaken to analyse the data. Overall, participants were positive about the feasibility of asylum seekers using the application as a behaviour change intervention. All expressed the view that it was easy to follow and would motivate them to increase their physical activity levels. Participants identified facilitators to this as the simplicity of the key messages, the cultural neutrality of the graphics and the availability of the mobile application in different languages. Identified barriers related to the dialect and accents in the translations and the over‐simplicity of the application. This study has identified that a targeted digital animation intervention could help asylum seekers change their behaviour and hence improve their health and well‐being. In designing such interventions, however, researchers must strongly consider co‐design from an early stage as this is an important way to ensure that the development of an intervention is fit for purpose for different groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Venezuelan migration crisis has displaced over six million people and is the Americas' largest forced migration. Nearby countries have received the majority of the displaced and initially showed an impressive welcome to Venezuelans, regardless of whether they may be considered migrants, asylum seekers, or refugees. However, host country responses have mainly been uncoordinated, siloed, and impromptu. This paper examines the solidarities and tensions within the individual country responses of Venezuela's closest Latin American and Andean neighbors: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Brazil. The number of displaced people leaving Venezuela has steadily increased since 2015 yet limited long term-planning and inclusion of migrants in host communities has led to a growth in xenophobia. Additionally, many Latin American host nations have erected new barriers that make legal entry or residency forms more difficult for migrants to obtain. The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded these issues as host countries grapple with supporting and offering resources to their citizens in addition to migrants. However, some promising regional solutions could be applied in a more coordinated regional approach to help ensure that host countries and IOs supporting them can better extend enduring solidarity and inclusion to Venezuelans. These solutions include longer-term visa options, such as the new Colombian 10-year visa, that can help regularize and include Venezuelans over a prolonged period. A particularly recommended approach would be the regional application of an inventive Latin America humanitarian-orientated accord, the Cartagena Declaration, a forward-thinking concept with a potential that has never been realized. The Cartagena Declaration could offer more comprehensive protection and fairer access to rights beyond temporary measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the experiences of asylum-seeking and forced migrant women in one of the satellite cities in Türkiye and discusses how gender affects women's precarious living and working conditions. Based on semi-structured in-depth interviews with 20 migrant women from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria in 2019, our findings suggest that asylum-seeking women have limited access to economic and social resources available in the satellite city of Isparta due to gender inequalities. The findings of the study indicate that factors, such as (1) gendered and informal employment structure, (2) traditional gender roles, (3) crowded and patriarchal family structure, (4) loosened kinship and solidarity, (5) language incompetence, (6) restrictive migration management and (7) satellite city policies, all have a role in determining the experiences of these migrant women. These factors often prevent migrant women from accessing some basic services, social networks and employment opportunities, and push them to live precarious, impoverished and excluded lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma and COPD are prevalent respiratory conditions among immigrants, yet many individuals in this population do not effectively utilize available therapies, resulting in exacerbations and limitations in their daily lives. This systematic review seeks to describe asthma/COPD educational interventions specifically tailored for immigrant patients and assess their variability and outcomes, with the ultimate goal of improving self-management and achieving better asthma or COPD control in this population.Design: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using four electronic databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Embase and PsycInfo). Articles were included if they focused on asthma or COPD interventions conducted in immigrant populations. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess the quality of included articles.Results: Out of the initial 1173 articles identified, 812 were assessed for eligibility. Six articles met the inclusion criteria for educational interventions targeting immigrants with asthma or COPD. These studies explored the effectiveness of interventions on various immigrant populations using different methodologies including group discussion of photographs and classroom-based interventions. The interventions varied in terms of settings, educational materials, and delivery methods. Positive outcomes were observed in areas such as knowledge, understanding of instructions, and inhaler technique. However, the included studies had limitations in assessing the impact on asthma and COPD self-management and sustainability.Conclusion: More research is needed on asthma and COPD management in immigrants. The interventions included in this review had positive effects on outcomes like inhaler technique and asthma knowledge. However, due to variability in outcome measures, it is difficult to directly compare the interventions. Future studies should include diverse immigrant populations, consider the specific migration status of the immigrants, long-term sustainability of the intervention and use culturally tailored approaches to improve respiratory health in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at understanding inclusive capacity of legal system in Turkey by evaluating dynamics of professional advocacy in administrative detention for Syrian refugees in irregular positions. Our empirical study revealed Turkish judicial system, despite its push toward centralization and professionalization in the name of identification by the European impact, has a serious lack of translation and interpretation facilities, procedural incompleteness as the issue of bureaucracy in overloaded functions, and incompetency in migration-specific jurisdiction. We claim these shortcomings associating with manifestation of discrimination toward Syrians disallow to overcome the exclusionary mechanisms toward irregular migrants, except for some attorneys' professional efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a substantial body of literature that discusses the problematic nature of asylum seeker healthcare in several European countries. However, little is known about how asylum seekers experience primary healthcare in Malta. Aim: This paper draws on a qualitative study that aimed to explore the nature of healthcare encounters between asylum seekers and healthcare professionals in Maltese primary healthcare and the contextual processes which influence these interactions. Methodology: The study utilised critical ethnography, informed by postcolonial theory. Data were collected through observation of encounters between healthcare professionals and asylum seekers (130 hours) and in-depth interviews with asylum seekers (n 11), cultural mediators (n 4) and Maltese healthcare professionals (n 7). Results: Thematic analysis of the combined data resulted in three themes: 'the impact of seeking refuge', 'seeking mutual understanding' and 'seeking resolution'. Healthcare encounters between asylum seekers and professionals are characterised by 'othering' practices, pre-conceived expectations and mutual mistrust. These are shaped by a complex interplay of factors, including damaging experiences of migration, derogatory political and public discourses and inadequate resources. Conclusion: In Maltese primary care, healthcare encounters are highly problematic for both patients and professionals. Nurses could take the lead in developing services to assess complex needs and aid asylum seekers in navigating the healthcare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent so called Mediterranean refugee crisis has ignited concerns about the magnitude of the flows of asylum seekers to Europe. This paper examines the determinants of the destination choice of first time non-EU asylum applicants to the EU, between 2008–2020. It investigates the role played by policies related to employment rights, processing of asylum applications, attractiveness of the welfare system, economic factors and networks on the destination of asylum seekers within the EU. We find that the strongest pull factor for asylum seekers to a destination is social networks both in terms of previous asylum applicants as well as stock of previous migrants. Our findings also suggest that employment bans are not a strong deterrence for asylum seekers given their modest association to asylum flows. • This paper examines the pull factors for asylum seekers to EU destination countries. • We focus on non-EU first time asylum applicants between 2008-2020. • The results suggest that social networks are the strongest pull factor. • Policies in destinations are modestly associated to asylum flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic is compounding the distress of millions of refugees (made up of displaced persons, forced migrants, refugees and asylum seekers) throughout the world. This discursive paper pitches a challenge for the global nursing profession, within the multidisciplinary context, to consider its collective agency in responding to the health and well-being needs of a priority portion of the global population. Nursing leaders are encouraged to renew their commitment to the International Council of Nurses' Code of Ethics and consider the role of their profession in assisting global refugees, because the extent of present need has become an escalating major global humanitarian crisis. The nursing profession comprises half the world's healthcare workforce. The World Health Organization considers that nurses play a fundamental role in ensuring access to universal healthcare as a basic human right, addressing the global need for health promotion care, disease prevention and primary and community healthcare (International Council of Nurses, The ICN code of ethics for nurses; 2012). It is a human right to seek asylum from persecution, and in doing so, people should not be subjected to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or circumstances. Nurses are increasingly interested in fostering a healthy and adaptive environment in which people can thrive, despite personal, political, emotional, physical or social adversity. Nursing care is indispensable for the easement of human distress and for the promotion of comfort and coping. Nurses have an essential role in advocating for policies that will enhance immigrants' access to health/mental health services and address barriers irrespective of migrant/refugee/asylum seeker status. These are challenging times as the world responds to the pandemic crisis, and nurses are called to rise to global and local leadership roles and join with other health and social care colleagues in addressing the universal human health, social and political crisis of our time. The global nursing collective must come to terms with the need to initiate additional compelling ways to improve and integrate health and social care processes so that nursing care, mental health and social care augment a holistic achievement of appropriate care for refugees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing from qualitative research with female asylum seekers in Scotland who had claimed asylum to protect their daughters from female genital cutting (FGC), this article examines the workings of the culture of disbelief during asylum interviews. In this article I illustrate how the treatment of FGC-related asylum claims is informed by the convergence of hostile environment, gender and refugee stereotypes and the dominant representations of FGC. I argue that at the collision of anti-immigration and anti-FGC discourses, asylum seeking women are confronted with conflicting expectations whereby they are simultaneously expected to reinforce the constructions of themselves as victims of 'backward' cultural practices, and to narrate their vulnerability beyond cultural terms in order to meet the criteria for asylum outlined in the Refugee Convention. This paper illuminates the multiple strategies asylum interviewers employ to undermine women's lived experiences of persecution, revealing the contradictions in how interviewers simultaneously question the threat of FGC, women's inability to resist these practices and women's own experiences of being subject to FGC. Through this, I problematise the assumptions that FGC as an 'extreme' form of gender-based violence would offer an exception to refugee women's persistent struggles in being recognised as victims of persecution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite Australia's longstanding reputation as a multicultural nation, xenophobic and integrationist ideas remain embedded within political, media and public discourse surrounding migration, especially within discussions of Muslims and asylum seekers. Existing literature indicates that within arguments that oppose refugee resettlement in Australia, Islam is routinely constructed as incompatible with Australian society. Some research, however, has highlighted resistance to these ideas, yet few studies have explored how these narratives of resistance are constructed. This paper, presents a Critical Discourse Analysis of semi-structured interviews with 24 Western Australians who discussed their perspectives concerning asylum seekers. Participants who supported restrictive asylum policies reproduced integrationist attitudes toward Muslims, however those who expressed welcoming asylum views routinely challenged these ideas. I discuss the discursive and rhetorical features of these opposing takes on Australia's asylum debate, outlining some important implications for democracy and political communication, as well as for critical race analysis and sociological scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Access to healthcare is restricted for newly arriving asylum seekers and refugees (ASR) in many receiving countries, which may lead to inequalities in health. In Germany, regular access and full entitlement to healthcare (equivalent to statutory health insurance, SHI) is only granted after a waiting time of 18 months. During this time of restricted entitlements, local authorities implement different access models to regulate asylum seekers' access to healthcare: the electronic health card (EHC) or the healthcare voucher (HV). This paper examines inequalities in access to healthcare by comparing healthcare utilization by ASR under the terms of different local models (i.e., regular access equivalent to SHI, EHC, and HV). Methods: We used data from three population-based, cross-sectional surveys among newly arrived ASR (N=863) and analyzed six outcome measures: specialist and general practitioner (GP) utilization, unmet needs for specialist and GP services, emergency department use and avoidable hospitalization. Using logistic regression, we calculated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals for all outcome measures, while considering need by adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and health-related covariates. Results: Compared to ASR with regular access, ASR under the HV model showed lower needs-adjusted odds of specialist utilization (OR=0.41 [0.24-0.66]) while ASR under the EHC model did not differ from ASR with regular access in any of the outcomes. The comparison between EHC and HV model showed higher odds for specialist utilization under the EHC model as compared to the HV model (OR=2.39 [1.03-5.52]). GP and emergency department utilization, unmet needs and avoidable hospitalization did not show significant differences in any of the fully adjusted models. Conclusion: ASR using the HV are disadvantaged in their access to healthcare compared to ASR having either an EHC or regular access. Given equal need, they use specialist services less. The identified inequalities constitute inequities in access to healthcare that could be reduced by policy change from HV to the EHC model during the initial 18 months waiting time, or by granting ASR regular healthcare access upon arrival. Potential patterns of differences in GP utilization, unmet needs, emergency department use and avoidable hospitalization between the models deserve further exploration in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Israeli teachers who teach Eritrean and Sudanese asylum-seeking children find themselves struggling to accommodate these children against the background of a polarized environment. The strategies teachers employ to cope with this tension are shaped by the broader socio-political context and the hostilities directed toward African asylum seekers in Israel. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 22 teachers in different schools in Israel, we observed that in the absence of any official educational policy for the integration, teachers employ strategies of avoidance and de-politicization of asylum seeking. We argue that when it comes to the controversies around asylum seekers, Israeli teachers adopt strategies that are similar to the ways they have coped with the long-term Israel-Palestinian conflict. Based on this observation, the paper suggests the local socio-political context is crucial in understanding teachers' attitudes, practices and responses towards asylum-seekers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venezuelan 'asylum seekers' arriving at the coast of Trinidad enter a new reality and become a part of a world of politics and processing like most migrants do. By no fault of their own, they embody local and global tensions concerning migration policies, border control, government authority, and international human rights and protection. This paper raises questions about the complex status and identity of Venezuelan migrants in Trinidad who came seeking asylum in recent years. The results demonstrate that internationally accepted "refugee" and "asylum seeker" categorization is highly unstable in the present context due to the core economic issues underlying forced migration. In line with previous anthropological research, the study highlights the ways in which labels do not encapsulate the local and global causes underlying forced migration and displacement. While international law is well-meaning, there remains a lot to be desired in the long-term protection of displaced people. There are also geographic and economic limits of small islands to absorb large numbers of displaced persons which, to date, has not been recognized by international human rights organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper empirically investigates the effects of governance quality on the number of African asylum seekers in Europe over the period 1996–2018 and evaluates the extent to which official development aid acts as a catalyst. With this purpose in mind, different gravity model specifications and estimation approaches have been employed. The obtained results suggest that the asylum flows are strongly determined by governance quality in the country of origin and that this effect does depend on the amount of foreign aid received from developed countries. Moreover, it is also found that development aid is only effective in reducing asylum applications coming from countries with good governance. Moreover, we find no differences in the estimated elasticity of foreign aid on asylum claims for the beneficiaries of the European Union Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF) for Africa, the main aim of which has been to improve living conditions of potential migrants in their countries of origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around the world, millions of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees encounter countless barriers to their movement and endure prolonged periods of waiting, resulting in frequent moments of immobility. This paper explores a paradox of experiences of mobility: how asylum seekers reconcile long-term future projects with immediate futures during moments of waiting. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork at the border between Mexico and Guatemala, I examine how asylum seekers balance their future projects within restrictive spatial–temporal contexts. I find that they actively inhabit spaces that they consider and wish to be transitory. Through particular tactics, they inhabit the meanwhile, while actively resisting to forego their future projects elsewhere. I analyse two sets of practices: place-making materialised in the construction of 'home' and temporal tactics to restore predictability and counter the uncertainty imposed by bureaucratic procedures. Inhabiting the meanwhile highlights asylum seekers' agency within restrictive spatial–temporal contexts and allows for future-making possibilities in a space of waiting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responding to the need for qualitative research that reveals the lived reality of how forced migrants endured the COVID-19 pandemic this paper presents findings from eleven interviews with asylum seekers residing in Ireland's Direct Provision (DP) accommodation system that detail care deficits before, during and after COVID-19 along with analysis of how care is discussed within Irish policy documents concerned with the health and wellbeing of asylum seekers. The research contributes personal testimony and documentary evidence of the inability of DP to properly adapt to the pandemic and its failure to protect the health and wellbeing of asylum seekers given pre-existing care deficits. The paper argues that an ethic of care practiced for and with asylum seekers must ensure they are not re-traumatised, and their health disparities are not exacerbated during public health crises and beyond. The findings are relevant to efforts to reform how international protection responsibilities are enacted in Ireland and other destinations of forced migrants, including EU member states.

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With the legislative proposals presented as the New Pact on Migration and Asylum on 23 September 2020, the European Commission sought to overcome the political impasse in reform efforts of the Common European Asylum System. A key element of this legislative package is the broader use of border procedures. The rationale is that by 'keeping' certain asylum seekers at the borders or in transit zones, return policies would become more effective. This paper undertakes a legal assessment of the proposed border procedures in light of legal obligations arising from the Human Rights to liberty and freedom movement. It argues that the qualification of asylum seekers' entry as unauthorised seemingly pushes into a gap in human rights law, allowing for detention and area-based restrictions. However, a reconstruction of the applicable human rights standards shows that the blanket use of such measures is in fact unlawful, such that the proposal will have to be amended in that regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the world economy and deepening globalisation lead to intensifying migration processes globally. European Union is the destination country for a significant part of migrants which has a crucial impact on the member-states economies influencing the labour market competitiveness. The goal of the current paper is to estimate the effect of immigration, emigration and migration of asylum seekers on the labour market indicators - unemployment and average annual wage and labour market competitiveness, in selected EU member-states. To achieve the article's primary goal, we use the method of panel data analysis on yearly data from 2003 to 2019. We developed a fixed-effects model for unemployment and a random effects panel data econometric model for wages to estimate the significance of migration processes for labour market indicators. The results show that the immigration of migrants with high qualifications and high skills has a significant positive impact on the labour market of the recipient country leading to a higher competitiveness. In contrast, the increase in the number of asylum applicants has a slight negative impact, hence harming the competitivesness of the country. On the other hand, the rise in emigration negatively impacts the labour market of the donor country as a result of the "brain drain" leading to a lower competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The 'senses'—our sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch—are intrinsic components of our human experience. Trauma recovery practitioners afford the senses to foster healing and draw into awareness the sensations of the traumatised body. Therefore, if the senses are valuable in trauma recovery, then they must also be important in the initial traumatic acts—such as violence. Aim: This ongoing PhD project explores the role of senses in violence committed towards refugees and asylum seekers in Europe. Method: A sensorial model is developed through semi-structured interviews and key engagement with literature and research. Results: An excess and absence of senses are critical in understanding violence endured by refugees and asylum seekers, but also in how violence is witnessed and perceived by others. It is clear people on the move experience violence sensorially throughout their journey. Conclusions: The senses are evidently part of the violence. At times, violence is in sensorial excess: the sounds of camps; the smell of tear gas. Alternatively, a concealment or deprivation of senses can also be violent: camps on the periphery; violence out of sight. Notably, senses (in excess or through concealment) can also be vital components in the survival of violence. "Vio-lense" is a suggested model for considering 'violence' and 'senses' as being essentially interwoven rather than separate. This, in turn, is important for development of collective healing mechanisms and, more widely, defining and understanding violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the Art Table at a drop-in centre for asylum seekers and refugees. It shows how a non-verbal approach can offer an opportunity for members to experience self-expression, companionship and healing in a safe space. This is illustrated by four stories of members and their artwork. The structure, approach and materials are described, followed by a discussion as to whether this work should be defined as art therapy or art and well-being. Issues specific to refugees are highlighted. The article concludes by highlighting the importance of community building and relational social justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Two Homelands / Dve Domovini is the property of Scientific Research Centre of Slovenian Academy of Sciences & Arts and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Access to health services for asylum seekers is legally restricted in Germany. The law is subject to interpretation, therefore the chance of receiving care is not equally distributed among asylum seekers. What services are provided to whom is ultimately decided by health professionals and government employees. The respective prioritization processes and criteria are not transparent. We sought to understand how legal restrictions are translated into daily practices and how this affects the health system. We aimed to outline the complex process of cost coverage for health services for asylum seekers and provide insights into common decision-making criteria. Methods: We conducted an ethnographic exploration of routines in two outpatient clinics in two federal states over the course of three months, doing participant and non-participant observation. Additionally, we interviewed 21 professionals of health care and government organizations, and documented 110 applications for cost coverage of medical services and their outcome. In addition to qualitative data analysis and documentation, we apply a system-theoretical perspective to our findings. Results: To perform legal restrictions a cross-sectoral prioritization process of medical services has been implemented, involving health care and government institutions. This changes professional practices, responsibilities and (power) relations. Involved actors find themselves at the intersection of several, oftentimes conflicting priorities, since "doing it right" might be seen differently from a legal, medical, economic, or political perspective. The system-theoretical analysis reveals that while actors have to bring different rationales into workable arrangements this part of the medical system transforms, giving rise to a sub-system that incorporates migration political rationales. Conclusions: Health care restrictions for asylum seekers are implemented through an organizational linking of care provision and government administration, resulting in a bureaucratization of practice. Power structures at this intersection of health and migration policy, that are uncommon in other parts of the health system are thereby normalized. Outpatient clinics provide low-threshold access to health services, but paradoxically they may unintentionally stabilize health inequities, if prioritization criteria and power dynamics are not made transparent. Health professionals should openly reflect on conflicting rationales. Training, research and professional associations need to empower them to stay true to professional ethical principles and international conventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women constitute over half of the global refugee population, yet they are underrepresented among asylum-seeker applicants in Europe. In this study, we analyse asylum application decisions in Italy between 2008 and 2022 using Eurostat data and a comprehensive set of indicators to assess political conditions and gender discrimination in the applicants' countries of origin. Our analysis unveils a limited 'female advantage' in asylum applications, revealing a complex relationship between gender, country of origin characteristics, and the asylum decision process. Interestingly, the observed advantage for women is contingent on the applicant's country of origin. In countries marked by war, autocracy, or severe discrimination towards women, the gender of the applicants does not significantly correlate with asylum decisions, as recognition rates are high for both men and women. Conversely, women from countries with moderate political and discrimination issues have higher chances of success than men in their asylum applications. The understanding of how gender intersects with other factors in asylum decisions is imperative for developing more equitable asylum policies and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research has highlighted important healthcare access and utilization issues among new forced immigrants. We aimed to explore the role that public and patient involvement (PPI) might play in enhancing accessibility and specific contributions to migration health studies. We conducted open and in-depth interactive virtual discussions with asylum seekers and refugees from Eritrea and Syria in Switzerland. The PPI establishment consisted of three phases: inception, training and contribution. Prior to training, the concept of PPI was not straightforward to grasp, as it was a new approach—however, after training and consecutive discussions, participants were ardent to engage actively. We conclude that PPI holds promise in regard to raising awareness, improving healthcare system accessibilities and utilization, and enhancing and strengthening migration health research. Indeed, PPI volunteers were keen to raise their community's awareness through their networks and bridge an important gap between researchers and the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused massive disruptions globally, with food insecurity a primary concern amongst vulnerable communities. As one of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups in Israeli society asylum seekers and undocumented populations were amongst the first to be affected by the pandemic and the economic crisis that followed. The objective of the study was to evaluate the severity and causes of food insecurity among asylum seekers and other undocumented communities because of COVID-19. Methods: A multi method approach was used. The quantitative component included an online questionnaire regarding access to food, aid and choices, and the 6 item Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM) The qualitative component included 4 focus groups and thematic analysis. The study was conducted in November 2020, by the Ministry of Health's Nutrition Division and the Tel Aviv Municipality's foreign community assistance and information center (Mesila). The convenience sample was drawn from the low-income neighborhood population of South Tel Aviv. Logistic regression, multivariate analysis and content analysis, were performed. Results: Four hundred eighty-five people completed the quantitative survey, with average age 33.2 ± 5.4 years and 349 (72.0%) experienced food insecurity. In the multivariate analysis, being older (p = 0.04, Odds Ratio OR 1.1, Confidence Interval CI 1.05–1.15) and being single (unmarried) (p = 0.03, OR 2.1, CI 1.2, 3.5) predicted food insecurity. Qualitative findings identified three main themes: children preferring Israeli/ Western foods to traditional foods; financial stresses were compounded; a preference for receiving assistance with purchasing food (vouchers), rather than food handouts. Conclusion: In conclusion, vulnerable populations (asylum seekers and other undocumented communities) were severely affected and are in danger of food insecurity. Culturally relevant and contextualized solutions are needed to address the acute hunger within the community. These include establishment of a cross-ministerial forum, a social grocery store, increased liaison with food rescue bodies, complete nutritional support for children in educational settings and increased guidance regarding food choices and budgeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1970s, Indonesia has been acting as a transit country for asylum seekers and refugees to reach Australia and New Zealand. Being a non-state party to the Refugee Convention, Indonesia has become the strategic partner for Australia in managing the issue of asylum seekers and refugees. The two countries have been involved in many bilateral and regional arrangements to tackle the issues. The “Bali process” is one of Indonesia and Australia's arrangements to lead the region in tackling forced migration and refugees. Unfortunately, despite their “common” interests, many of Australia's policies towards asylum seekers have negatively impacted Indonesia in many ways. This paper uses desk study research with a normative approach to analyse nationally and internationally relevant laws and policies. This paper analyses the Bali Process as regional cooperation means of burden-sharing in which Indonesia and Australia play dominant roles while scrutinising how both countries implement the policies within their domestic realms. In addition, the dynamics within the two countries will also be examined to understand how they shape their policies. This paper argues that Indonesia has fulfilled its part by managing these protected persons within Indonesia. However, Australia seems to consistently try to shift its burden to Indonesia as its neighbouring state. By revisiting the Bali Process arrangement, it is suggested that Australia needs to respect its commitment and take any means necessary to keep good relations with its neighbours, including Indonesia.