Transcript Vaakapohja Eng

Living in Finland, Migrant
experiences and viewpoints
Abdirizak Mohamed, M.Sc.
Independent researcher, Doctoral student
IIAS Conference
National Parallel Seminar: Migration in Finland
8.7.2009
Contents of the presentation
Overview of Trends and Demographics of Migration in
Finland
Finland and Post Cold War Migration
Tidal Wave of Refugees in Early 90s
Family Reunification and Programs of Social Integration
Cultural and Educational Challenges
Labour Markets and Membership of Civil Society
Global Village – Interdependence and Crisis
Management
Lessons Learned: Facing the Wave of New Migration
Abdirizak H. Mohamed 8.7.2009
Annual migration from and to Finland 1945-2004
Institute of Migration / Statistics Finland
Abdirizak H. Mohamed 8.7.2009
Migration between Finland and other EU countries 1992–2008
Source: Statistics Finland
Abdirizak H. Mohamed 8.7.2009
Foreigners in Finland 1990–2008
At the end of each year
Abdirizak H. Mohamed 8.7.2009
www.migri.fi
Foreigners in Finland by nationality 31.12.2008
Russia Estonia
Sweden Somalia China Thailand Germany Turkey
Abdirizak H. Mohamed 8.7.2009
UK
Irak
Lähde: Väestötietojärjestelmä
Number of people of Somali origin in Finland 1991-2008
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Number of Somali speakers
Number of people born in Somalia
Abdirizak H. Mohamed 8.7.2009
Statistics Finland
Finland and Post Cold War Migration (1)
Until the 70s Finland was more of a source for migration.
First refugee groups settled were from Chile and Viet Nam.
The first groups of asylum seekers from Africa came from
Somalia in the beginning of 90s.
Mixed migration from Russia, the Baltics and the Balkans
increased during the 90s in the post cold war situation.
Annually 750 persons (refugees) are accepted for
resettlement by agreement signed between Finland and the
UNHCR.
Mixed migration increasing with the economic growth and
attractive study opportunities.
Abdirizak H. Mohamed 8.7.2009
Finland and Post Cold War Migration (2)
Finland joined European Union in 1995 and since then has
adhered gradually to EU’s joint migration policies.
The European Council met in Tampere in 1999 and
determined to develop the Union as an area of freedom,
security and justice by making full use of the possibilities
offered by the Treaty of Amsterdam.
“The aim is an open and secure European Union, fully
committed to the obligations of the Geneva Refugee
Convention and other relevant human rights instruments,
and able to respond to humanitarian needs on the basis of
solidarity. A common approach must also be developed to
ensure the integration into our societies of those third
country nationals who are lawfully resident in the Union.”
(EC, Tampere 1999)
Abdirizak H. Mohamed 8.7.2009
Tidal Wave of Refugees in Early 90s
Finland experienced an economic crisis following the collapse
of the Soviet Union.
Immediately before and after the collapse of Somalia’s
government Aeroflot was the only provider of direct flight
connections from Mogadishu to the industrialized countries.
The civil wars in ex-Yugoslavia caused new ethnic groups to
seek for protection in Finland.
Finland had no preparedness for the influx of asylum seekers
and Finnish Red Cross assisted the government in providing
shelter and security for the new arrivals.
The accommodation, the settlement and in the continuation
phase the integration programmes were mostly and primarily
based on ad hoc –actions and learning by doing.
Abdirizak H. Mohamed 8.7.2009
Family Reunification and Programmes of Social Integration
The Somali diaspora on all continents comprises more than
one million people.
In Somalia millions of people are displaced and in continuous
need of humanitarian aid.
Family reunification programmes make slow progress, even
in what regards the unaccompanied minors.
Uniting the family after many years and from long distances
mostly causes considerable friction.
The extended ’transnational’ families remain dispersed over
the global village and form an informal consultative network.
Social integration’s objectives comprises the learning of the
new language and the skills for engagement to the labour
markets and the societal and cultural life.
Abdirizak H. Mohamed 8.7.2009
Cultural and Educational Challenges
Finland has been culturally and socially relatively isolated until
after the WWII, with a non-indoeuropean language,
overwhelmingly protestant and mixed western-eastern culture
and a far northern climate with long winters, short summer
seasons.
Addressing the cultural and religious rights of any minorities,
especially the marginal ones, is in the making, but need special
attention and special measures.
The educational system, like the social security system, is based
on principles of equality and non-discrimination, but on the other
hand does not adapt easily to the great variation within the
immigration groups.
The elder generations’ pertaining to the old traditions and beliefs,
even harmful practices, and the free and voluntary assimiliation
of the hosting society’s values and practices cause friction within
the immigrant communities.
Abdirizak H. Mohamed 8.7.2009
Labour Markets and Membership of Civil Society
The economic crisis in Finland in early 90s created massive
unemployment, and the opportunities for the immigrants’
access to open labour markets were scarce. Within ten years
the situation has improved substantially.
The immigrant communities mostly tend to be introverted,
nurturing traditions and homegrown values, and when worst,
divisive and threatful.
Civic education and socially inclusive participation need
special attention and to be given a priority in the integration
programmes.
Learning the new language by tuition and practice must be
made easily accessible and a lucrative, rewarding excercise.
Services and counseling with a multicultural approach should
be universally available.
Abdirizak H. Mohamed 8.7.2009
Global Village – Interdependence and Crisis Management
Respect the universal human rights’ principles.
Address the push factors for mixed migration
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Poverty, massive unemployment
War, conflict, bad governance
Persecution, human right violations
Environmental degradation, climate change
Ignorance and development handicaps
Make migration a choice, rather than a necessity in the
global village.
Crisis management is a prerequisite for a better future.
Wars and conflicts are not inevitable. They are caused by human
beings. There are always interests that are furthered by war.
Therefore those who have power and influence can also stop them.
Martti Ahtisaari’s Nobel Lecture, Oslo 2008
Abdirizak H. Mohamed 8.7.2009
Lessons Learned: Facing the Wave of New Migration
The procedures in settlement and reception should be fair,
human and supportive, not uniform and bureaucratic.
All parties should have a place at the table and have their
word when problems are discussed and solutions are sought.
Prevention is better than cure and much more effective.
Peace is a question of will. All conflicts can be settled, and there are no excuses
for allowing them to become eternal. It is simply intolerable that violent
conflicts defy resolution for decades causing immeasurable human suffering,
and preventing economic and social development.
Martti Ahtisaari’s Nobel lecture 2008
Conflict settlement requires the injection of optimism and hope born from
employment and economic opportunities. Otherwise, fragile peace agreements
can rarely be sustained.
Martti Ahtisaari’s Nobel lecture 2008
Abdirizak H. Mohamed 8.7.2009
Migration and Development – A new Frontier?
'Europe needs more migrant workers….It will
be facing increasing labour shortage at least
over the next 20 years..
EC president Jose Manuel
Barroso
07-11-2007
EC Communication on Youth 2007:
“Many countries are unsuccessful in social
inclusion of youth with a migrant
background or from disadvantaged
minorities”
Abdirizak H. Mohamed 8.7.2009
Kiitos!
Thank you!
Tack!
Merci!
Mahadsanid!
Abdirizak H. Mohamed 8.7.2009