Diversity, Inclusiveness and Social Cohesion

Launched in 2014, cantonal integration programmes (CIPs) are intended to remedy gaps in the integration process. The aim is not just to assist immigrants but also to help local communities by showing them how to provide immigrants with the best possible information.

CIPs help to fill existing gaps and the lack of specific programmes to encourage integration, and also help communal authorities to welcome and provide targeted information to immigrants. CIPs are jointly funded by the Swiss Confederation and the Cantons.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has issued a brochure that aims to inform guest workers arriving in the United Arab Emirates. The short (10 page) brochure summarizes 10 important things to know for newly arriving migrants, including information on recruitment costs, personal identification, starting work, contract termination and moving to a new employer.

The mission of the interactive media platform albinfo.ch is twofold:

a) Active Citizenship and harmonious integration of people and ethnic Albanian populations in Switzerland

The purpose of albinfo.ch is to be used as a communication tool through free and convenient access to quality non-partisan information and services.

Many countries are experiencing humanitarian migration on an unprecedented scale. Efforts towards the coherent, long-term and comprehensive strategies that maximize the benefits of migration must be continued. The key to maximizing the benefits of immigration is the successful integration of migrants into their host societies.

To this end, the Greek Fund for the Integration of non-EU immigrants (EIF) has sought to promote European cooperation, with the objective of granting equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for all.

The Mayoral Forum on Mobility, Migration and Development is the annual gathering of mayors and city leaders serving to promote globally relevant policy dialogue, foster the exchange of experiences in governing migration, and strategize on how to work collectively. The Forum has been held annually since its launch in 2013. The objectives of the Mayoral Forum are to:

Launched in 2009, PLURAL+ is a joint initiative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with a network of more than 50 partner organizations around the globe.

Switzerland has a long tradition of sheltering refugees. At the same time, opinion polls consistently show voter concern about high levels of immigration, and about sheltering people who may not be genuine refugees.

In 2009, the Japanese government introduced “bridging schools” to help in the educational integration of migrant children whose parents were affected by the 2008-2009 global economic crisis.

IOM has a strong history in pre-departure and post-arrival services and works in four areas:
- movement and transportation assistance
- case processing
- health assessments
- overseas language training and/or cultural orientation.
Pre-departure and post-arrival training are integration tools that are increasingly requested by both receiving and sending governments to prepare and facilitate the integration of potential migrants in origin countries.

Switzerland has developed a specific integration program, executed between 2008 and 2015, to encourage the development of individual urban projects. The program is being accompanied and funded by six different federal agencies (multi-stakeholder approach) and aims to develop individual projects in socially and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, where cohabitation between the local population and migrants from different parts of the world is a challenge.