A/HRC/56/54
and migration.9 Sharing food and the dialogue that accompanies it often lie at the heart of
migrant integration experiences. Moreover, food in countries of origin is enriched when
migrants bring back cuisines and ingredients from abroad.
16.
Migrants invigorate the arts through festivals and events that become hubs of cultural
exchange. Their contributions often spark new collaborative ventures in music, film, art and
literature. In the media and entertainment, migrants introduce fresh narratives and
perspectives, and their unique contributions frequently lead to success. 10 In Argentina,
migrants take part in projects that showcase their cultural identity, bolstering social cohesion
and cultural diversity.11
17.
The introduction of different languages fosters multilingualism and contributes to
societies. Canada reported that more than 450 mother tongues were currently spoken in the
country. In Canada, most newcomers can also communicate in an official language of
Canada, namely, English (94 per cent) and French (69 per cent). 12
18.
Migrants contribute to the evolution of fashion and design. Migrant students and
educators introduce diverse perspectives, enriching curricula and broadening pedagogical
approaches. The health-care sector benefits from migration: varied health practices, medical
equipment and medicinal knowledge from across the world enhance the quality and breadth
of services. The practice of diverse religions by migrants adds to the richness of communities,
fostering interfaith dialogue and promoting mutual understanding.
19.
Infusion with diverse social norms and values fosters societies that are more open,
tolerant and adaptable, enriching cultural awareness and appreciation. By sharing
experiences and knowledge, migrants, in particular women, can challenge prevailing biases
and gender stereotypes. Ecuador highlights diversity as a crucial asset, emphasizing its role
in enriching the country’s cultural and professional diversity and bolstering social innovation,
knowledge transfer and development.13
20.
In a recent report,14 the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights highlights
how migration enriches culture through the blending of communities and traditions. The
Museum of Islamic Art of Qatar, for example, actively engages Afghan refugee families
through art workshops, lectures and films in multiple languages. 15
21.
Migrants’ interactions with their homelands – in the form of visits, communication or
return – drive sociocultural growth through the transfer of “social remittances”, or ideas,
values and practices. Migrants often advance gender equality by using their overseas
experiences to advocate for women’s and girls’ empowerment in their countries of origin.16
B.
Migrants’ civic-political contributions
22.
Migrants make various civic-political contributions that not only enrich host societies
but can also lead to significant positive changes in countries of origin. They often contribute
to the development of more inclusive, democratic and participatory governance structures
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
4
See Sina Sajadmanesh and others, “Kissing cuisines: exploring worldwide culinary habits on the
Web”, in Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on World Wide Web Companion, Rick
Barrett and others, eds. (Geneva, International World Wide Web Conferences Steering Committee,
2017).
See Philip Kasinitz and Marco Martiniello, “Music, migration and the city”, Ethnic and Racial
Studies, vol. 42, No. 6 (2019).
Submission by Argentina.
Submission by Canada.
Submission by Ecuador.
A/HRC/52/35.
Ibid., para. 21.
See Jean-Michel Lafleur and Justine Duchesne, “Migration de retour, genre et remises sociales: le
retour des migrantes boliviennes d’Espagne durant la crise économique”, Revue européenne des
migrations internationales, vol. 33, No. 2–3 (2017).
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