The Antoine Favre Law Research Center is hosting an international conference from September 2 to 6, 2024 , on the Jacob-Bellecombette campus, in Lecture Hall 531. This event, organized by Associate Professor Olivier Chavanon, will explore the theme“Perspectives on Contemporary Issues Surrounding the Migration of Unaccompanied Minors in Europe, Africa, and the Americas.” Admission is free, with no registration required, subject to availability.
Program and Speakers
This event will bring together speakers from many countries to discuss the complex issues surrounding the migration of unaccompanied minors (UAMs). The discussions will focus on the reasons for their departure, reception arrangements in destination countries (Italy, Canada, Spain, France, and Switzerland), and the psychosocial and educational challenges faced by professionals and these young migrants.
The scientific directors of this initiative are:
- Olivier Chavanon, Antoine Favre Law Research Center, Savoie Mont Blanc University
- Théogène-Octave Gakuba, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland, Geneva School of Social Work
- Sylvia Garcia-Delahaye, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland, Geneva School of Social Work
- Mohamed-Walid Benyezzar, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland, Geneva School of Social Work
Topics and Objectives
People seeking exile, often unaccompanied minors, are fleeing difficult situations such as war and poverty. The increase in migration since 2015 has highlighted the challenges of receiving and integrating them. The ERMINAJE project (i.e., Expansion and Strengthening of the Research and Training Network on Unaccompanied Minors and Young Migrants in Canada, Spain, France, Italy, and Switzerland) is expanding its scope to include countries of origin and transit such as Algeria, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, and Tunisia.
This project aims to strengthen international scientific cooperation to enhance research and education at partner universities. It is part of the Network for Exchange and Collaboration among Francophone Higher Education Institutions (RELIEF) program, whose members include the University of Savoie Mont Blanc, the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières, and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO).