The war on Ukraine has caused forced displacement on a scale and at a speed not witnessed in Europe since World War II. This issue of FMR seeks to address questions that have arisen out of the crisis, reflecting on the lessons learned from the immediate response and the implications for the international refugee and asylum system.
A key concept in this issue is the ‘temporary protection’– permission to stay that falls short of asylum – afforded to Ukrainian refugees. Where temporary protection can be revoked at the discretion of a government, asylum grants permission to stay for as long as the conditions that gave rise to a need for it persist.
Exploring this temporary protection, several articles examine the provisions for Ukrainian refugees in various European countries, the USA and Russia. Some discuss positive examples, such as innovative hosting initiatives and access to rights, while others reflect on Ukrainian refugees’ needs for greater integration, including access to decent work, education, and social and financial services.
Several articles address the displacement experiences and gaps in support for different marginalised groups, including stateless people, minority language speakers, youth, children, older people, internally displaced people, people with disabilities and nationals of other countries. These articles collectively highlight the importance of inclusion and equity in forced displacement response.
Finally, other articles consider issues that intersect with forced migration, such as gender-based violence, trafficking, localisation, and the role of media, communications and digital technologies – the latter a theme we will revisit in our forthcoming feature on Digital disruption and displacement.
The ultimate implications of the war on Ukraine, both locally and globally, are unclear. Amid this uncertainty, we hope the articles in this issue will generate discussion and fresh insights and, most importantly, improve policy and practice for people affected by forced migration.
With best wishes,
Emily Arnold-Fernandez and Catherine Meredith
Editors, Forced Migration Review