FRANCE
Multiculturalism is perceived primarily from an ethnographic perspective.
The conception of "multiculturality" that prevails in France is individualistic and pluralist.
France wishes to promote cultural diversity but there is a deep-seated reluctance to recognize itself as multiple.
The French Office of Immigration and Integration (OFII) is the main agency of the General Directorate for Foreigners in France (DGEF), which implements and pilots immigration and integration policies on French territory.
The integration process for migrants is based on a personalized Republican integrati
on process lasting five years, with a one-year Republican Integration Contract (CIR) (renewable once for year). Some of the benefits to which migrants have access are: Language training, if the need is identified; Compulsory civic training; Professional guidance via the public employment services, etc.
Subject to legislation and administrative practices that impose restrictions on entry into France, migrant women have become a priority for integration policies.
The French Immigration Office (OFII) offers women a training course entitled "Living in France". This training aims to support immigrant women in their social, cultural and professional integration in France.
The issue of gender equality is at the heart of the OFII's missions.
GREECE
According to the Ministry of Migration and Asylum of Greece, social integration is a process that entails mutual accommodation by third-country nationals (migrants, applicants, or beneficiaries of international protection) and Greek residents.
Successful social integration leads to peaceful co-existence, respect for diversity and social cohesion.
There are many initiatives organized by NGOs, IOs, citizens, municipalities, etc. An example is the Athens Coordination Center for Migrant and Refugee issues (ACCMR) which aims at efficient coordination between municipal authorities and stakeholders operating within the city.
The Ministry of Migration and Asylum (2019, 2021) gave particular emphasis on migrant and refugee women in the National Strategy for Integration. Generally, the migration policy and regulatory framework include a gender perspective. An examples of employment inclusion initiatives it is HARTS (Hands on Refugees’ Talent and Sustainability) (2021) by the Greek Forum of Refugees that aims at of empowering women with a refugee or migrant background.
ITALY
In several respects, the assimilationist approach keeps being the main strategy underlying the current immigration policy (Ciancio 2014, pp. 43-48; Guolo 2009, pp. 5-7; Guolo 2011): in fact, the Italian situation is defined by a “hybrid” model of integration, even defined as a “non-model” (Guolo 2009, p. 5), and not because it would combine different approaches, but because it is devoid of linearity and full of contradictions (id., p. 6).
There is no Ministry of Immigration in Italy, so immigration and asylum issues are dealt with by the Ministry of the Interior: as a result, many services are decentralised and distributed through territorial networks. Some of the main measures and programmes aimed at the integration of immigrants, which have been implemented: Ministry of the Interior (Rome, Italian Government); Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration (Dipartimento per le Libertà civili e l’Immigrazione), c/o Ministry of the Interior; 2014-2020 Planning, Italian Government; Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund 2014-2020 (AMIF); UNAR, National Office against Racial Discrimination
No specific measures can be identified for migrant women at a national level: accordingly, the issue is often left to the tertiary sector, committed to promoting initiatives, projects, and campaigns aimed at supporting migrant women and their diversities in their social, cultural and economic integration, as well as citizen participation, yet at a rather local level of action.
PORTUGAL
The concepts of social inclusion are regulated in Law DL no. 31/2014 of February 27th, which sets out the nature, mission and duties of the High Commissariat for Migrations.
The reference literature and the legislation seem to defend an intercultural model, fostering the valorization of cultural diversity. However, the narratives of the women interviewed, in practice, highlight some experiences that seem to translate the multicultural and assimilationist model.
The High Commissariat for Migrations (ACM) is a public entity that intervenes in the implementation of public policies in the field of migration. The ACM pursues a close collaboration with other public entities such as the Commission for Gender Equality and Commission for Equality in Labor and Employment depends.
Some integration and inclusion policies pursued by the national plans are: The Migration Strategic Plan 2012-2021; National program for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund for the period 2014-2020; National Implementation Plan for the Global Compact on Migration.
The normative provisions are constructed according to gender-neutral language avoiding the use of feminine and masculine. Nevertheless, it is possible to identify in some instruments a more accentuated concern about gender and that derives from obligations assumed at international and national level.
SLOVENIA
There is a certain inability of organizations to adopt policies on diversity management given the lack of skills associated with cultural sensitivity. For example, whereas workplaces are bound to become more and more diverse, the predominant approach towards diversity in workplaces in Slovenia tends to either dismiss cultural diversity as inconsequential or treat it as a nuisance that needs to be dealt with.
Integration/inclusion programs are developed mainly through NGOs, associations and activists who assume the main role that state institutions must play in terms of information and support to facilitate (social) integration.
The concepts of social inclusion are not gender specific and therefore pertain to migrant men and women. Most laws and policies adopt a gender blind approach which results in migrant women’s specificities frequently remaining invisible and as such not highlighted in policy approaches that would facilitate integration.
SPAIN
In Spain, the "Organic Law 4/2000, of January 11, on the Rights and Freedoms of Foreign Nationals in Spain and their Social Integration" (subsequently amended by LO 8/2000, LO 14/2003, LO 2/2009, LO 10/2011, RDL 16/2012 and Judgement 13/2021) is the basic norm that regulates the integration of foreigners. It regulates that public administrations have competence in migration matters and in promoting the social integration of migrants through transversal policies, equality between women and men, as well as non-discrimination.
The policy of integration of immigrants carried out by the Secretary of State for Migration, through the General Directorate of Inclusion and Humanitarian Care, aims to promote the full integration of foreigners into Spanish society, within a framework of coexistence of diverse identities and cultures with no limit other than respect for the Constitution and the law. Within this regulatory framework and with the main objective of strengthening social cohesion, work is being done on the elaboration of a new Strategic Plan for Civics and Integration. The Plan, which is aimed at all citizens, takes up the wake of the previous Plans: the PECI 2007-2010 and PECI 2011-2014 and its guiding principles: equality, citizenship, interculturality and inclusion. The Plan shall constitute a programmatic framework to promote the integration of immigrants, applicants and beneficiaries of International Protection.
At the national level, there are a number of plans, programs and projects, of a public nature, that pursue the integration of migrant women, addressed directly or indirectly. Although, there are not many measures that are aimed at migrant women and in this sense we must continue working to offer specialized care with a gender focus.
It is observed how the form and the models to manage migrations vary from one context to another. This aspect is essential to analyze the integration policies and measures developed in each of the countries. In the analyzed contexts, at least one representative of each of the predominant models has been observed. For example, the multicultural model in France, the intercultural model in Portugal and the assimilationist model in Italy. In relation to the model, it is important to highlight the discrepancies that exist between the model that is theoretically promoted in the country and the model that is actually implemented (see the case of Portugal). For this reason, it is very difficult to identify a single model in a country, since there are usually hybrid measures.
In relation to gender issues, a great disparity has been observed. While in countries like France it is considered a general priority, there are other countries like Italy or Slovenia where gender issues are not considered. This makes us reflect on the importance of continuing to work on the gender approach to make visible the need to include this perspective in any program or policy that is developed in the area of migration.
