Rhetoric vs. reality: The meaningful participation of migrants in humanitarian action

While there is extensive support by the humanitarian sector for the meaningful participation of migrants in theory and rhetoric, the gap between commitments and action is wide. Migrant voices and the unique expertise, experience and knowledge they bring continues to be recognised and articulated on paper but is still often undervalued in practice. Drawing on an analysis and evolution of terminology and models around meaningful participation in the context of migration-related work in the humanitarian sector, as well as insights and learnings from the Red Cross Red Crescent Global Migration Lab, this paper argues that concrete action on the meaningful participation of migrants, including refugees, is not keeping pace with words and intentions. For meaningful participation of migrants to become a reality, it requires systems change to break down persistent barriers in humanitarian policy and processes and enable a rebalance of power.