HIV/AIDS and Migration: Community Recommendations

Migration is a global reality and with increased globalization, there is greater mobility across borders. There is a variety of push and pull factors in countries of origin and in countries of destination respectively that promote and sustain migration. These include demand for skilled and unskilled labour, family reunification, social and economic imbalances, war, persecution, human rights abuses and poverty. Such dynamics can lead to the migration of individuals and also entire communities.

Global population mobility is a complex, heterogeneous and growing phenomenon. In 2005, 3% of the global population were migrants. In the same year, 8.4 million refugees2 and 23.7 million internally displaced people in 50 countries3 were seeking shelter and safety. Due to various gender-related factors, the proportion of migrants who are women is increasing, with women now accounting for approximately half of the global migrant population. Migration routes have also changed. In addition to traditional destination countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA, new countries have emerged as popular destination or transit countries. In Europe these include Ireland, Italy, Norway and Portugal. Countries like Spain, Portugal and France that are linked historically or geographically to formerly colonised and/or neighbouring countries have emerged as common transit countries. Furthermore, labour migration within and from the regions of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia has increased and there is a notable increase in short-term circular migration. With the EU enlargements in 2004 and 2007, the freedom of settlement was extended and international agreements increasing opportunities for mobility were put in place.