PICUM calls for submissions from undocumented migrants and their supporters

Over the past years, PICUM has observed an increasing trend of criminalising irregular migrants in Europe through criminal law measures, administrative detention or policies and rising xenophobia and racist violence.

Referring to undocumented migrants as “illegals” is a key cause of this discriminatory behaviour, hinders public acceptance of migrants, and exacerbates social exclusion.  Moreover, it is incorrect from a juridical point of view, as an individual cannot be considered by nature as “illegal”.

PICUM members working to support undocumented men, women and children to realise their rights and undocumented migrants themselves on a daily basis witness first-hand how this negative terminology influences the perception that undocumented people have no rights and that migration is a criminal activity. This is why PICUM advocates for the use of correct terminology when referring to undocumented migrants.

Therefore, we invite you to share your definitions of ‘undocumented’, terminology battles and terminology wins.

TELL US:

1. Alternatives to ‘illegal’. What word has been developed in your language to challenge the use of criminalizing terminology and discourse towards migrants?

2. A negative experience in which the perception that an undocumented migrant is ‘illegal’ was a barrier to prevent access to rights (for example being turned away from services).
Or a positive experience where you challenged this perception, how you did it and what was the outcome.

Submissions will be published without contact details (unless requested) on the PICUM website on the occasion of International Migrants Day on 18 December 2013.

Please follow some guidelines for your submission:

  • You can submit answers in the following seven languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch
  • Submissions should not exceed 400 words (PICUM might shorten submissions when publishing on the website)
  • You are free to change the names of persons mentioned (PICUM guarantees not to publish contact details unless requested and to treat given contacts such as email addresses confidentially)
  • By submitting your story, you agree that it can be published or parts of it can be published together with other submissions on the PICUM website on the occasion of International Migrants Day on 18 December 2013 and shared through Twitter and Facebook.

Please send your contributions until latest 17 December 2013 to: elisabeth(at)picum.org


Read more on PICUM's website