RETURNEE
A returnee is a person who decides to return to their home country after living, studying or working abroad for a certain period of time.
Despite the heated and controversial debate surrounding the concept of 'return' in Europe, especially in relation to the legal status of people who choose to return and policies such as Assisted Voluntary Return, the very act of return prompts reflection on individual power to act. The stories of those who opt to return to their country of origin offer an opportunity to understand the motivations behind this decision.
With respect to Morocco and Tunisia, the countries researched in our project, data indicate that return flows have increased following the Arab Springs, due to personal and/or family, political or professional choices.
Returning women often bring with them new ideas, skills and experiences that facilitate the improvement of the quality of life of others in their countries of origin.
Reasons for return vary and may include homesickness, the desire to set up a business or engage in entrepreneurial activities, reuniting with family members, involvement in politics or advocacy, among other possibilities.
In particular, women returnees can contribute to democratic governance, gender equality and human rights in their home countries. They can also boost local economies by creating job opportunities and promoting social growth. With their expertise, they strengthen political and economic ties between states and inform migration, development and gender equality policies.
WE PROPOSE wants to broaden the focus of research on returns by involving women from Morocco and Tunisia who decide to return to their country of origin, filling a gap in existing research by international organisations on migration. Traditional perspectives often privilege the analysis of quantitative data, neglecting these often hidden flows. Our aim is to intercept and highlight these important experiences.
Further Reading
Crane A., Lawson V., (2020). Humanitarianism as conflicted care: Managing migrant assistance in EU Assisted Voluntary Return policies,Political Geography, Volume 79, 102152,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2020.102152.
Donato, S. (2023). Women Migrant Returnees as Intermediaries: Exploring Empowerment and Agency of Migrant Women Returnees in the EU-MENA Region. Int. Migration & Integration. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-023-01095-9
King, R., & Kuschminder, K. (Eds.). (2022). Handbook of return migration. Edward Elgar Publishing.
https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/handbook-of-return-migration-9781839100048.html
EU Commission (2011). Migration and Home affairs. https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/networks/european-migration-network-emn/emn-asylum-and-migration-glossary/glossary/returnee_en