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Resolution 2043 (2015) Final version
Democratic participation for migrant diasporas
1. Today, diasporas play a more prominent
role in politics than in the past. The members of diasporas can help
to build bridges between States and to promote democracy both in
their countries of residence and in their countries of origin.
2. The Parliamentary Assembly believes that the right of diasporas
to democratic participation is a fundamental condition for their
political integration. Regrettably, most European countries still
deprive migrants of the right to vote despite their advanced policies
of integration. Unless the migrants and local residents of all backgrounds
are given the right to vote, at least in local elections, the process
of integration will remain incomplete.
3. The Assembly considers that allowing dual citizenship or introducing,
in their countries of origin, a special legal status for nationals
living abroad would encourage their constructive involvement in
shaping policy in their home countries. However, the dual citizenship
status should not be misused to promote expansionist policies and
violate the sovereignty of other States.
4. Furthermore, the Assembly encourages co-ordination between
the governments of the countries of residence and those of the countries
of origin in addressing the issues of the political status and participation in
local, regional and national elections of people holding double
nationality.
5. The Assembly believes that governments, both in host countries
and countries of origin, have to play a key role in engaging diasporas
in decision-making policies, developing collaboration between governmental institutions
and formulating recommendations on drafting diaspora-oriented programmes
to ensure economic, social and cultural development.
6. The Assembly welcomes the role of diaspora associations in
helping migrants integrate into the host society.
7. The Assembly is especially concerned about the rise of racism
and xenophobia in Europe and stresses the role that diaspora policies
can play in fighting these extremist tendencies.
8. The media have a major role to play in countering the binary
stereotypes of migrants being seen as either victims or criminals.
Television channels, newspapers and electronic media should give
them genuine opportunities to realise their economic and intellectual
potential, which benefits both their country of residence and their
country of origin.
9. With the aim of improving the democratic participation of
diasporas in Europe, the Assembly calls on member States to:
9.1. ensure the effective exercise
of the voting rights of members of diasporas, and in particular:
9.1.1. sign and ratify the Convention on the Participation of
Foreigners in Public Life at Local Level (ETS No. 144), if they
have not already done so;
9.1.2. allow foreigners the right to vote and stand in local
and regional elections after a maximum residence period of five
years;
9.1.3. simplify the electoral legislation with regard to external
voting, including the extension of proxy, postal and e-voting to
diaspora members, and introduce effective measures aimed at ensuring
the exercise of the right to an external vote for those concerned;
9.1.4. establish bilateral committees composed of lawmakers from
the country of residence and the country of origin to examine complex
cases relating to the dual citizen’s active political participation
in more than one country;
9.2. introduce policies which would facilitate diaspora members’
involvement in political life, and in particular:
9.2.1. review
national legislation with a view to granting a special status to
members of diasporas in their countries of origin, delivering a
residence and work permit, and facilitating the return process where
appropriate;
9.2.2. promote diaspora members’ contribution to the development
of their country of origin by, inter
alia, the transfer of their knowledge, education and
experience;
9.2.3. co-ordinate the integration policies of host countries
with the diaspora-related programmes of countries of origin with
a view to achieving a bigger impact;
9.2.4. ensure policy coherence between measures targeting diasporas
abroad and migrant diasporas in the host countries;
9.2.5. create specific ministries or intergovernmental structures
to deal with diaspora policy;
9.2.6. actively involve members of diaspora organisations in
the development of integration programmes for migrants;
9.2.7. in regions with settled diasporas, develop strategies
of co-operation with diasporas at local level;
9.2.8. ensure that diplomatic representations have staff trained
to deal with issues of concern for diasporas;
9.3. promote the activities of diaspora organisations by:
9.3.1. supporting the initiatives of diaspora organisations through
specific budgetary programmes;
9.3.2. encouraging political parties to involve diaspora members
in their activities;
9.3.3. encouraging the use of new communication technologies
with a view to reinforcing links between different diaspora organisations;
9.3.4. creating a database on the activities and networks of
diaspora organisations.
10. The Assembly invites international organisations, in particular
the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Organization for
Migration (IOM), the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU), the Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the European
Union, to promote and protect the cultural and political rights
of diasporas and to support projects aimed at their democratic participation.
11. The Assembly considers that it could act as a platform for
developing a parliamentary dialogue on diaspora participation by
proposing the creation of a parliamentary network on diaspora policies.