FORCED MIGRATION AND SHIFTING BORDERS
The 2nd Annual Conference of the Canadian Association for Refugee and Forced Migration Studies (CARFMS)

University of Ottawa, June 1-3, 2009

This conference brings together academics, activists, NGOs, policy makers, government representatives, and forced migrants themselves from a wide array of disciplinary and regional backgrounds in order to discuss diverse issues related to forced migration within and across borders. We invite participants from a range of perspectives to engage in a series of interdisciplinary dialogues in order to explore, debate and understand the varied aspects of forced migration. The conference will feature keynote and plenary speeches from leading figures in the field while panels will explore a number of sub-themes and important issues outlined below. We invite proposals for individual papers as well as organized panels structured around three broad sub-themes:

1) Forced Migration, Global Politics and the International Arena
2) Settlement, Security and Social Justice
3) Interdisciplinary Approaches to Forced Migration Research

Borders are featured prominently in the discussion and practice of
migration: they exist as physical barriers and control points; they permeate our understanding of insiders and outsiders; they are implicit on the definitions of forced migrants and our perceptions about them.
Governments are adopting "multiple borders" strategies where asylum-seekers and migrants generally experience "borders" not only at ports of entry, but also inside Canada (by virtue of being non-members) as well as outside Canada (through Canadian policies and allocation of resources overseas). The themes of this conference explore the experiences of (forced) migrants at those different locations; examine theoretical concerns about what it means to be an outsider when the "border" is conceived so flexibly and contemplate ways of overcoming these borders.

1) Forced Migration, Global Politics and the International Arena

Current restrictive practices towards asylum-seekers and refugees raise a plethora of questions about politics in the area of forced migration; factors contributing to the plight of forced migrants; adequacy of current responses to refugee situations; and the nature of interaction between states, regional and international bodies in the area of refugee protection. What is the impact of state practices on forced migrant populations? How should interaction between states, non-governmental and international organizations be structured in order to ensure more adequate response to refugee situations?

2) Settlement, Security and Social Justice

Conferral of refugee status is only one aspect of refugee protection.
Meaningful protection includes not only a functioning refugee determination process, but also settlement and other supports which will help forced migrants build their lives in the host country. Issues of settlement and social justice raise questions about the treatment of asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants generally in communities ? both in legal and social terms. This highlights the existence of borders not only from outside, but also from within. What are the roles of local communities in facilitating settlement and inclusion of migrants?

3) Interdisciplinary Approaches to Forced Migration Research

Issues of forced migration are becoming increasingly complex; they require interdisciplinary analysis and innovative solutions. The location of the conference in Ottawa lends itself to an opportunity for promoting dialogue between researchers, policy-makers and NGO community. What should the relationship between different actors be?

Within these broad sub-themes we envision a range of papers and panels able to address a number of issues including:

Labor migration and "illegality"
Resettlement, acculturation and social exclusion Impacts of security concerns on laws and legal interpretations that define the rights of refugees and migrants International impacts of refugee policies of the global north on forced migration worldwide The gender, race and class implications of legal and policy frameworks regarding forced migration Protracted conflict situations and trends in forced migration Humanitarian aid, intervention and refugees Development, displacement and forced migration Safe Third Country Agreements and impacts on refugee populations Security certificates, anti-trafficking provisions and surveillance and investigative powers of the state Child refugees Relationship between various actors (government, non-governmental organizations, academics) on issues of refugee protection

SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS
Individuals wishing to participate in the conference must submit a 250-word abstract of the paper by February 15, 2009 (general deadline).
The conference welcomes submissions of both individual paper presentations and proposals for panels.

CARFMS is applying for SSHRC funding for the conference. The application is due on November 1, 2008 and must contain a sample of submitted abstracts and presenters' CVs. To help us in the application process, we strongly encourage early submissions by October 24, 2008. All early submissions must include a 250-word abstract of the paper and presenter's CV. CV is required only for the purposes of SSHRC application.

Submissions should be sent to carfms2009@gmail.com. For further information please contact Pablo Bose at carfms2009@gmail.com.