Link - IOM Publications - International Organization for Migration

KEY THEMES AND PRINCIPLES
During the panel presentations and the ensuing discussions
among the participants, a number of key themes and principles
emerged.
• First, the general consensus was that integration is a twoway
process between the migrant and the host society in
which each side has certain responsibilities towards the other.
This presupposes a willingness and openness of migrants as
well as of host societies to learn and benefit from each other.
Many panellists and participants supported integration
programmes that encouraged such a reciprocal process. They
recognized that integration must occur within a framework
of cooperation and respect, in which host societies need to
develop an appreciation of diversity, while migrants must
respect the values and standards valid in their respective
country of origin.
• Second, participants repeatedly emphasized that migrants
are obligated to observe the laws of the host country, while
the country of destination should ensure that human rights
of migrants are respected.
• Third, participants remarked that integration programmes
must consider that migrants have differentiated needs
and that there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. Integration
programmes that are too general and do not address the
specific needs of the migrant do little to actualize integration.
Integration programmes can be tailored to an individual’s
linguistic needs, cultural background, and socio-economic
status. Gender and age need to be taken into account and in
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