An IOM expert on migration data-sharing, Marina Manke, speaking in Chisinau at a workshop on labour-migration policy and data management, 28 September 2004. Migration/ Freedom of Movement One of the main characteristics of a modern society is The ODIHR assists OSCE participating States in their ef- increased population mobility. As people in the OSCE forts towards further compliance with OSCE commit- region move both within their countries and between ments on migration, freedom of movement, treatment countries, current migration phenomena are becoming of migrant workers, and treatment of citizens of other increasingly complex. Migration can be a positive fac- participating States. tor in economic and social development and can contribute to understanding among cultures and to de- Despite the best efforts of the ODIHR and its many mocratization trends. But migrants can also become partners, there are serious obstacles to protecting the victims of negative stereotyping, intolerance, and vio- human rights of migrants in the OSCE. Moreover, there lations of human rights. are persistent negative stereotypes and perceptions about the impact of migrants. A lack of information on The OSCE has developed a number of important com- migration as a phenomenon and on migration laws mitments to facilitate the movement of people across and policies of other participating States presents a borders, as well as within their own countries. There challenge to citizens and governments alike and needs are also specific commitments related to the treatment to be overcome. Another challenge is the perception in of migrant workers. one group of OSCE states that another part of the region is erecting a “paper curtain” of onerous visa re- As deadly conflicts erupted in the OSCE area in the quirements that would divide the region and its citi- early 1990s, more attention was put on the plight of zens, thereby preventing them from learning more those who did not intend to become migrants but who had to move involuntarily, becoming either refugees, about each other and from reaching mutual under- by virtue of crossing international boundaries, or inter- standing. nally displaced persons (IDPs). 40