Citizens’ project to advance migrants rights and social inclusion
Migration Policy Group (MPG) are carrying out a project on ‘Piloting Immigrant Citizenship Campaigns across Europe’. Its research and growing scientific literature on the topic show that naturalisation of immigrants has many positive consequences, such as:
- It promotes democratic participation and societal integration and it advances immigrants’ rights and social inclusion
- National citizenship improves immigrants’ employment rates, income, housing situation, and participation in elections and other political actions
- Naturalised immigrants are less likely to experience discrimination from employers, are better legally protected against it, and more likely to report it
- The more immigrants that can become citizens and can vote in elections, the more likely politicians are to listen to them and support inclusive policies
MPG’s experience is that few actors work on the issue of naturalisation; it is considered a ‘luxury’ issues that does not concentrate on those most in need. Many actors focus on changing laws but not on following-up implementation and promotion. MPG counter these arguments by saying that naturalisation and voting rights are not ‘luxuries’ – on the contrary, they are vital preconditions for people to have the power to influence their own situation.
To get involved in the campaign, please contact Thomas Huddleston (THuddleston@migpolgroup.com) or Sarah Cooke O’Dowd (scodowd@migpolgroup.com).
