Overcoming myths about migration and migrants, engaging in more balanced and fact-based dialogue is vital, say participants at IOM and OSCE discussion in Vienna

VIENNA, 18 December 2017 – Now more than ever, there is a strong need to overcome myths and misconceptions about migration and migrants and to engage in a more balanced and fact-based dialogue about a phenomenon that has shaped humanity, said participants at a IOM and OSCE-hosted discussion, Perception is not reality – Towards a new narrative of migration, today in Vienna.

The gap between reality and perception has widened, with reinforced stereotypes, misconceptions and prejudice about migrants, they noted.

The event, held on the occasion of International Migrants Day, gathered experts and practitioners in the area of migration governance, as well as representatives of think-tanks, academia and research entities, civil society, international organizations and OSCE executive structures.

“The benefits of migration go well beyond the positive contribution of migrants to the global economy,” said OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger. “Circulation of competencies, skills and knowledge benefit the societies of origin, destination and the migrants themselves.”

“Frequently presented in terms of ‘crisis’, migration is often discussed in ways that are one-sided and prone to induce misperception,” said Greminger, underlying how facts about migration are often overlooked.

With its comprehensive approach to security and as the largest regional security organization under the UN Charter, the OSCE is well-placed to contribute to supporting the political dialogue on the topic, particularly in view of the adoption of the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration, complementing the efforts of other international organizations, participants noted.

The International Organization for Migration’s Special Policy Advisor Gervais Appave said that there is a great deal of common ground, hinging on the understanding that migration is not so much a problem to be solved as a human reality to be managed.

“We need to offer hope to those facing economic despair, to provide legal pathways for more migrants or circular migration options for those who wish to work and return home,” he said. “If we do not come up with solutions, the smugglers will do it for us, at great cost to human life and to the fabric of our societies.”

Ambassador Florian Raunig, Head of the Task Force for the 2017 OSCE Austrian Chairmanship, said: “As a global phenomenon, current migration patterns and refugee movements are a shared responsibility of the international community. It is important not to lose sight of the fact that, if managed and regulated properly, migration can be beneficial to all parties involved.”