About the Migration Governance Indicators
About the Migration Governance Indicators
Migrants' rights
Migrants' rights
Indicators in this domain assess the extent to which migrants have the same status as citizens in terms of access to basic social services such as health, education, and social security. It also describes the rights of migrants to family reunification, to work, and to residency and citizenship. The ratification of the main international conventions is also included within this domain.
Indicators in this category look at the extent to which migrants have access to certain social services such as health, education and social security. They also examine measures to ensure integration and access to work.
Whole of government approach
Whole of government approach
Indicators in this domain assess countries’ institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks related to migration policies. Domain 2 also reviews the existence of national migration strategies that are in-line with development, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in relation to migration management. This domain also investigates the extent to which governments collect and use migration data.
Indicators in this category assess the institutional frameworks of cities for migration. This area also examines the existence of migration strategies consistent with development objectives, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in migration management.
Partnerships
Partnerships
This domain focuses on countries’ efforts to cooperate on migration-related issues with other states and with relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector. Cooperation can lead to improvements in governance by aligning and raising standards, increasing dialogue and providing structures to overcome challenges.
Indicators in this category focus on cities’ efforts to cooperate on migration issues with the national government as well as other cities and relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector.
Well-being of migrants
Well-being of migrants
This domain includes indicators on countries’ policies for managing the socioeconomic well-being of migrants, through aspects such as the recognition of migrants’ educational and professional qualifications, provisions regulating student migration and the existence of bilateral labour agreements between countries. Indicators equally focus on policies and strategies related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances.
Indicators in this category assess cities’ initiatives in terms of international student mobility, access to the labour market and decent working conditions for migrant workers. Aspects related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances are also included in this domain.
Mobility dimensions of crises
Mobility dimensions of crises
This domain studies the type and level of preparedness of countries when they are faced with mobility dimensions of crises, linked to either disasters, the environment and/or conflict. The questions are used to identify the processes in place for nationals and non-nationals both during and after disasters, including whether humanitarian assistance is equally available to migrants as it is to citizens.
Indicators in this category examine the type and level of readiness of cities to deal with aspects of mobility crises. The questions focus on the processes in place for citizens and non-citizens both during and after disasters, especially if humanitarian assistance is available for migrants and citizens.
Safe, orderly and regular migration
Safe, orderly and regular migration
This domain analyses countries’ approach to migration management in terms of border control and enforcement policies, admission criteria for migrants, preparedness and resilience in the case of significant and unexpected migration flows, as well as the fight against trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants. It also assesses efforts and incentives to help integrate returning citizens.
Indicators in this category look at the cities’ approaches to migrant safety as well as return and reintegration policies and the fight against trafficking in persons.
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Key findings
INTRODUCTION
This Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (Argentina) migration governance structures and areas with potential for further development, as evaluated through the six domains of the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI). These address migrants’ rights, a “whole-of-government” approach, partnerships, socioeconomic well-being of migrants, the mobility dimensions of crises, and safe and orderly migration.
Click the icons on the wheel to explore the key findings.
The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) initiative is a policy-benchmarking programme led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and implemented with research and analysis from the Economist Intelligence Unit. Funding is provided by IOM Member States.
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Key findings
MIGRANTS’ RIGHTS
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Ministry of Health of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA) is coordinating the strengthening of a public health network to ensure access to these services for all, regardless of immigration status.
- All migrants in CABA can access to public education (kindergarten, primary, secondary and tertiary), regardless of their immigration status, in accordance with the Law on Municipal Education (1999).
- In 2020, the General Directorate of Communities of CABA published a guide entitled ¡Hola, soy migrante! with information on access to health, work, education and housing for migrants in the city.
- Buenos Aires operates the Migrant Station, a mobile office that provides information and advice to all migrants to facilitate their access to municipal services.
Areas with potential for further development
- Buenos Aires has no formal measures to assist persons wishing to emigrate. Some ad hoc measures are taken nonetheless.
- The establishment of specific procedures and measures to ensure the protection of migrant children, unaccompanied minors and children left behind is an area with potential for development.
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Key findings
WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT APPROACH
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The General Directorate of Communities is responsible locally for elaborating migration policies through the BA Migrante programme, which aims to promote inclusion for migrants and refugees in the social, cultural, economic and political life of the city.
- Local authorities regularly compile and publish migration-related data disaggregated by sex, through the Demographic Retrospective Survey and the Annual Household Survey.
- The staff of local public bodies receive training on migration, migrants' rights, integration, anti-discrimination and interculturalism.
Areas with potential for further development
- Local authorities take ad hoc measures to enhance the vertical coherence of migration-related policies through working groups and forums for dialogue with the central Government.
- It was not possible to identify a formal coordination mechanism on migration issues at the local level.
- Although the Migrant Station operates as a mobile office at some mass events and in neighbourhoods with a significant number of migrants, the CABA does not have a single-window to provide guidance to this population.
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Key findings
PARTNERSHIPS
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- Buenos Aires is part of international networks for the sharing of knowledge and best practices on migration, including Mercocities Network (since 1995) and the Cities of Solidarity Network (since 2006).
- Local authorities collaborate formally with the private sector in the implementation of migration-related policies and programmes, and offer companies workshops on migration, human rights and intercultural communication.
- The development of the "¡Hola, soy migrante!" information guide is an example of local authorities actively collaborating with IOM and other UN agencies on migration issues.
Areas with potential for further development
- Local authorities collaborate with civil society organizations and NGOs on an ad hoc basis to implement migration-related programmes.
- Formal cooperation between local authorities and academia to inform migration policy is an area with potential for development.
- There is as yet no formal cooperation between local authorities and members of the diaspora inagenda-setting and implementing local policies and programmes.
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Key findings
WELL-BEING OF MIGRANTS
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The General Directorate of Communities and the General Directorate of Entrepreneurship create spaces for training and professional assistance for migrant entrepreneurs.
- Since 2003, the General Directorate of Women’s Affairs has been operating the programme All Migrant Women (Todas Mujeres Migrantes), for the purpose of raising the profile of migrant women and promoting their integration and non-discrimination against them in different spheres of citizen involvement.
- In 2021, the Economic and Social Council of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires launched the document Hacia una Estrategia de Inclusión Financiera de Mujeres (Towards a strategy for the financial inclusion of women), which mentions migrant women as one of the vulnerable groups to be considered.
Areas with potential for further development
- The General Directorate of Communities works on an ad hoc basis with the business-sector actors to raise awareness of migration regulations, but no formal programmes were identified to promote the ethical recruitment of migrant workers.
- Although there are no specific programmes to help foreign residents find work in the private sector, they have access to some programmes aimed at the general population.
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Key findings
MOBILITY DIMENSION OF CRISES
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Undersecretariat for Emergencies formulates and implements policies for the control and monitoring of emergencies and establishes systems to assist the community in emergency situations.
- The Emergency Master Plan (2009) states that the General Directorate of Civil Defence is the body responsible for providing assistance in the event of evacuations and population displacements.
- The Law on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (2011) provides for the creation of an External Advisory Council and the convening of a Climate Change Cabinet.
- The Resilient Buenos Aires Strategy (2018) promotes policies for tackling urbanization, globalization and climate change, and identifies migrants as a group for priority consideration in all actions.
Areas with potential for further development
- At the local level, it was not possible to identify any formal coordination agreements, partnerships or referral systems that had been established with key actors (such as consulates) to provide assistance to non-nationals in Buenos Aires in the event of emergencies.
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Key findings
SAFE, ORDERLY AND REGULAR MIGRATION
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- There are local institutions responsible for ensuring migrants' access to justice, including the Orientation and Complaints Unit, the Community Legal Services and the CABA Ombudsman's Office.
- The local police receive annual specific training on issues related to the migrant population, including migrants' rights, migration regulations and interculturality.
- Since 2010, Buenos Aires has had a Committee against Human Trafficking, which meets quarterly to comply with the Law on Comprehensive Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking (2008).
- The Biannual Local Plan to Combat Trafficking and Exploitation of Persons and to Protect and Assist Victims 2022-2023 promotes actions aimed at prevention, assistance, prosecution, strengthening and institutional articulation in the field of trafficking.
Areas with potential for further development
- It was not possible to identify a local program to facilitate the reintegration of returned migrants.
- Local authorities do not regularly publish information about their anti-trafficking activities.
2022 September
