Human Rights Day 2025: Migration Beyond Narratives of Fear and Crisis

Location: Lecture Theatre LTW1, Cottrell Building

To mark International Human Rights Day and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, this event brings together academics and practitioners, including those from IOM, Just Right Scotland, Forth Valley Welcome, and the AIHLI to reflect on what human rights mean for people on the move today, amid global prevailing narratives of fear and crisis. Through a series of reflective panel discussions, we revisit the promise of human rights, examine how migrants/refugees/asylum seekers are increasingly excluded from it, consider the difficulties of working within and against this environment, and explore pathways forward.

Discussions will explore the themes:

• Global Patterns of Migration, Exclusion and Resistance: Comparative insights from practitioners and academics on how exclusion manifests globally, the challenges of operating in restrictive environments, and reflections on the limits and possibilities of international human rights frameworks.
• Migration, Exclusion, and Community Resistance in the UK: Insights from practitioners and academics on UK-specific dynamics, including the Illegal Migration Act, the “small boats” discourse, far-right politics, the “one in, one out” policy, the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy, and examples of community resistance and solidarity.
• Institute of Advanced Studies: People on the Move Cluster PGR Student-led Seminar: Reflections from PhD students on academic approaches to challenging narratives of fear and crisis, ensuring that research informs change at a tangible level. This may include methodological approaches such as narrative analysis, participatory, or creative research methods and/or seeking to craft policy-relevant research.
• Creative Display/Discussion

For event enquiries, please contact: [email protected], [email protected]

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Host or Publisher University of Stirling