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.
Key findings
Introduction
This country Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of the 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 Impact. Funding is provided by IOM Member States.
Key findings
Migrants' rights
Migration governance: Examples of well-developed areas
- All migrants have equal access to health services as citizens, regardless of their immigration status.
- Both long-term and temporary residents have access to Paraguay’s social security system.
- Paraguay has policies to combat hate crimes, violence, xenophobia and discrimination against migrants.
Areas with potential for further development:
- Although the Constitution of the Republic of Paraguay guarantees the right to free education for all, in practice resident status is required.
- Family reunification is only possible for migrants with permanent residence in Paraguay.
- Foreign nationals admitted as temporary residents are only allowed to engage in remunerated or lucrative activities that were taken into account for the granting of the entry permit.
Key findings
Whole of government approach
Migration governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Directorate-General of Migration is the government body responsible for drafting and updating the National Migration Policy (2015) and for coordinating migration policy implementation.
- Paraguay has a clear, transparent and easily accessible body of migration rules and regulations.
- The Directorate-General of Migration compiles and publishes migration data on a regular basis.
Areas with potential for further development:
- There are working groups for ad hoc inter-ministerial coordination on migration matters but no dedicated mechanism for this purpose.
- As of November 2021, there is no national migration strategy document.
- There are limited efforts to improve vertical coherence of the migration policy.
Key findings
Partnerships
Migration governance: Examples of well-developed areas
- Paraguay is part of an official regional consultative process called the South American Conference on Migration (SACM) or Lima Process Paraguay.
- In 1997, Paraguay signed the Multilateral Agreement on Social Security (AMSS) which promotes mobility among Mercosur member countries.
- Paraguay has signed cooperation agreements on consular affairs and migration with Ecuador and Chile.
Areas with potential for further development:
- The government only collaborates with civil society organizations on migration issues on an ad hoc basis.
Key findings
Well-being of migrants
Migration governance: Examples of well-developed areas
- There are formal criteria in place for the recognition of foreign qualifications, and the country participates in international schemes with common qualification frameworks.
- There is no distinction between international and Paraguayan students when it comes to accessing higher education.
- The Development Secretariat for Returnees and Refugee Compatriots incentivizes small and medium-sized enterprises launched by returnees through funding, seed capital and free technical assistance.
Areas with potential for further development:
- No national assessments have been conducted to monitor immigration needs or the impacts of outmigration on the labour market.
- The government has no specific measures for promoting gender equality for migrants in the workforce.
- Paraguay does not allow international students to work in the country after graduation.
Key findings
Mobility dimensions of crises
Migration governance: Examples of well-developed areas
- Migration Law No. 978 (1996) provides for some exceptions to immigration procedures for persons without a nationality or who, owing to exceptionally justified circumstances, lack the required documentation for admission.
- Specific measures have been developed to assist migrants during crisis situations.
Areas with potential for further development:
- Paraguay lacks a contingency plan to manage large-scale population movements in times of crisis.
- There are some policies and programmes in place that address the repatriation and reintegration of migrants, but no overall strategy or policy on the matter.
- There is no evidence of the implementation of a two-way communication mechanism (between the government and citizens) during emergencies.
Key findings
Safe, orderly and regular migration
Migration governance: Examples of well-developed areas
- Integrated Control Areas (ACIs) are geographical areas where integrated controls are undertaken by officers from migration-related services of Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina in order to ensure better coordination.
- The requirements for entering and leaving the country, residency applications and other procedures are clearly described on the Directorate-General of Migration website.
- Paraguay has adequate policies and procedures for the timely identification of migrants in vulnerable situations and for offering them proper assistance and protection.
Areas with potential for further development:
- There is no evidence that the Consular Information System conducts centralized monitoring of persons overstaying their time in the country.
- The government has not organized language training courses for border control personnel or courses in gender-related or cultural matters.
- The formal system of visa applications prior to arrival in Paraguay is only accessible through a personal and face-to-face procedure.
2021 November
