Migrant family reunification: policy and practice conference

Family migration has been the main channel of migration to the OECD area in recent years, representing about 40 per cent of permanent migration inflow. It is diverse in character but often closely linked to labour migration (OECD, 2017). In the context of managed migration systems family reunification promotes the integration of migrants already in the host country. It can help to create socio-cultural stability, facilitating integration and promoting economic and social cohesion. Family reunification is also fundamental to the integration of refugees and to ensuring the protection and wellbeing of the individual family members (UNHCR, 2001). At this time of record levels of forcible displacement, family reunification can be an important route to safety.

This full day conference will provide an opportunity to exchange information on family reunification schemes, in Ireland and abroad. Speakers from OECD, UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration will provide international context. Drawing on the findings of a recently published European Migration Network study, the family reunification policy frameworks operational elsewhere in the EU will be discussed and compared. Insights on the family reunification system operational in Ireland will be provided by the responsible authorities as well as I/NGOs working in the field.

Speakers:

• Minister of State, Department of Justice and Equality, David Stanton TD
• Jonathan Chaloff, Senior Administrator, Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, OECD
• Patrick Corcoran, Senior Specialist, International Organization for Migration
• Brian Merriman, Principal Officer for International Protection Policy, Department of Justice and Equality, Ireland
• Fiona Hurley, Legal Services Manager, NASC: The Irish Immigrant Support Centre
• Samantha Arnold, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, EMN Ireland
• Hans Lemmens, Immigration and Naturalisation Service, Ministry of Security and Justice, Netherlands
• Julie Wington, Direction de l’immigration, Direction Générale des étrangers en France, Ministère de l'Intérieur (General Directorate for Foreign Nationals in France, Ministry of the Interior)
• UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

More information:
The conference programme will be available on www.emn.ie.