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"We are Dying Silent" - Report on Destitute Forced Migrants
Methodology
A social and a legal questionnaire was
developed to map the social and legal reality of migrants living
in destitution within Europe.
As part of our methodological instruments open interview
guidelines were developed to be used for interviews with
destitute migrants, NGO representatives and JRS national staff
members for exploration of the social reality of destitute
migrants. The interview guidelines aimed at drawing a clear
picture of the social situations of destitute migrants and their
most pressing needs in each country. As regards the interview
guidelines for destitute migrants, an open approach was taken
when conducting the interviews. Open questions were asked during
the interview to avoid working with a preconceived reality and
to guarantee that the interviewed migrant himself described his
social situation and indicated his major problems and most
pressing needs in his life.
The interview guidelines developed for the JRS national staff
members and NGO representatives were developed to receive
information about their perspectives on the issue of destitution
of migrant groups within the respective country.
For the purpose of identifying the legal situation in which
destitute migrants find themselves, a legal questionnaire was
developed to be filled in by local legal experts. The legal
questionnaire was designed to provide general legal background
information relevant to cases of destitution, to know if and in
what way the State has recognised the various groups of
destitute migrants under its laws and the legal entitlements to
public goods and services which have a potential effect on the
destitute situation.
Limitations of the study
Geographical limitation
The countries in which cases of destitution are examined are
limited to where JRS had national offices at the start of this
research project. Consequently, not all countries within Europe
are covered and the report is limited in its outreach. However,
the distribution of JRS national offices includes a variety of
factors that take into account different contexts in which
destitution of the forcibly displaced occurs in Europe: various
legal systems; various traditions of asylum legislation; various
traditions of social security systems; various migration and
immigration histories, including forced migration; and a
geographical distribution across Central, Southern, and Western
Europe with some cases from Eastern Europe.
Furthermore, the conducted research was also limited to the cities
where JRS has national offices. No interviews were conducted
with destitute migrants who were living faraway from these
cities. For this reason, the specific situation of living in
destitution in rural areas is left unexamined.
Access to destitute migrants
Identifying and arranging access to destitute migrants took
place through the national JRS offices. The overall majority of
the destitute migrants interviewed are beneficiaries of JRS
national offices, or else, they benefit from the services
provided by other NGOs collaborating with JRS. The situation of
those destitute migrants who do not receive any form of support
from NGOs or other institutions or charity organisations might
not be fully reflected in this report.
Further information on the methodology used to produce the
report can be found on pages 9-10 of the full report. |
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European Programme for Immigration and Migration
Network of European Foundations |
