Vulnerability
The group “vulnerability” was the second sub-group created by association members. It aims at fostering exchange among interested members on research, related doctrine and jurisprudence on the notion of vulnerability, its development and use in the context of migration (studies).
Activities and outputs:
Research colloquium
The group organized a research colloquium “Between Autonomy and Vulnerability: Perspectives on Migration” which took place on 20 May 2016 at the University of Neuchâtel. It can be considered a full success with around 20 young researchers as well as three experts from different institutions from Switzerland and abroad participating. The colloquium was funded by the CUSO-Droit and the Centre for Migration Law CDM.
Creating a network on vulnerability:
The colloquium encouraged participants to start a network on „vulnerability and migration“ aimed at creating bonds among researchers in Switzerland and abroad in order to organize further conference, exchange information on events and calls as well as ideas of research project with regard to the notion of vulnerability in the context of migration studies.
Further projects
After the great success of the first research colloquium the group is interested in organizing a second conference and is therefore watching out for further funds and ideas for a distinctive topic.
Report of the "Vulnerability" Colloquium
20 May 2016; University of Neuchâtel
The colloquium “Between Autonomy and Vulnerability: Perspectives on Migration” took place on 20 May 2016 at the University of Neuchâtel. Organized by seven members of the association (Nesa Zimmermann, Stephanie Motz, Raphaël Rey, Laura Affolter, Gabriela Medici, Teresia Gordzielik and Nula Frei) and funded by the CUSO-Droit and the Centre for Migration Law CDM, the colloquium can be considered a full success with around 20 young researchers from different institutions from Switzerland and abroad participating. The organizing committee achieved to invite Prof. Thomas Spijkerboer from the Free University of Amsterdam, Prof. Judith Wittenbach from the University of Bern and Prof. Christin Achermann from the University of Neuchâtel to participate as experts to the colloquium. The day started with a welcome note by Prof. Christin Achermann and a keynote lecture by Prof. Spijkerboer. After that, three panels with presentations by the participating young researchers took place, each of them dedicated to a specific aspect of vulnerability: the notion of vulnerability and its use in the asylum context, the production and construction of vulnerabiliti(es) and its effects, and the interdependence between vulnerability and autonomy as well as other concepts such as marginality, precariousness and resilience. The presentations were both based on case studies as well as on rather conceptual analyses. (See also programme).