Reframing narratives on migration

OHCHR and migration

Instead of repeating harmful narratives of fear and exclusion, it’s time to welcome people into our communities, to reimagine our collective future

Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

How we perceive and speak about migrants and migration – the narrative – plays a fundamental role in guaranteeing equality and the human rights of migrants. OHCHR is thus actively engaged in challenging and reframing harmful narratives on migration through its #StandUp4Migrants campaign and toolbox, and its engagement with a range of partners and migrants themselves.

Why narratives matter

Harmful and dehumanising narratives on migration have increasingly permeated political movements, media and other forms of public discourse in many countries. Such narratives have used migrants as scapegoats for deep-rooted societal problems and fears, often for political or financial gain.

When migrants are criminalized and even dehumanized by policies and rhetoric, the result is often that they are left without human rights, without a place in society. The effects of such divisive narratives are also wide-reaching within our societies.

While narratives are part of the problem, they can also represent a powerful tool for change. OHCHR therefore seeks to shift narratives of fear, hate and division to those that uphold everyone’s human dignity and focus on what we have in common.

Get Inspired: UN Human Rights Vision for the World

How to reframe narratives on migration

Together with partners from different regions of the world, OHCHR developed a seven-step guide, based on OHCHR’s Seven key elements on building human rights-based narratives on migrants and migration. The interactive online toolbox offers ideas, downloadable activities and inspiration for organisations and anyone who wants to play a role in shifting narratives on migration.

The toolbox is accompanied by #StandUp4Migrants a campaign, which helps illustrate the toolbox in action. It focuses on humanising migrants through the voices of migrants themselves and the people who welcome them. By emphasising what we have in common, the warm welcome of communities and how human connection and understanding starts with a conversation, the campaign showcases how our vision for the future already exists and can be expanded for others to experience the positive impact as well.

Research findings and experiences were gathered through expert meetings, partnerships with business, advertisers and influencers, as well as platforms for migrants and migrant rights defenders to share their stories, including through a series of animated video stories to amplify the voices of migrants, the communities that welcome them and the conversations they have along the way.