Immobility in Fragile Contexts: Between Dignity, Rootedness, and Migration: A comparative Study in Latin America and Africa

Most people don't migrate: study reveals why millions of people remain in their countries despite adverse conditions

• Although the focus of the European debate is on irregular migration and asylum, only 3.6% of the world's population lives outside their country of origin, making immobility a much more common and politically relevant reality

• The study was carried out in five countries - Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Mali and Ethiopia - and explores why many people remain in their communities despite adverse conditions

• Ayuda en Acción urges European institutions and EU Member States to pay explicit attention to this reality when addressing the migration challenge in the EU

Madrid, 19 June 2025 - In a European context marked by a growing polarization around migration and asylum - exacerbated by the security-focused approach of the New Migration and Asylum Pact and the lack of effective solidarity mechanisms - the public debate continues to focus on the management of irregular migration. In this regard, Ayuda en Acción, an international organization committed to creating opportunities for growth and development for those most in need, has presented its study 'Immobility in Fragile Contexts: Between Dignity, Rootedness and Migration. A comparative study in Latin America and Africa,' which sheds light on a reality that is often invisible in the public debate on migration: human immobility.

This reality has been thoroughly analyzed in five countries across Africa and Latin America - Colombia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Mali and Mexico - in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Canada, the IDRC Research Chair on Forced Displacement at the Universidad del Pacífico (Lima, Peru) and researchers from each country.

Through this analysis, the research shifts away from the traditional approach focused exclusively on those who migrate and explores the reasons why only 3.6% of the world's population lives outside their countries of origin, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), even when facing adverse living conditions. This has led Ayuda en Acción to further examine how economic, social and political factors limit the possibilities of migrating, revealing that mobility is shaped and restricted by systemic inequalities.

Among the most decisive factors are the lack of financial resources and institutional support, which make staying the only viable option for many people. Other factors include caregiving responsibilities - borne largely by women, as seen in Ethiopia, Ecuador and Colombia - advanced age, limited access to reliable information and mistrust of migration systems, fuelled by past failed attempts or the absence of state guarantees, as seen in parts of Mexico.

In Europe, the right to remain is still outside the political debate

Ayuda en Acción emphasizes the importance of the European Union, EU institutions and national governments recognizing immobility as a legitimate and priority dimension in the development of migration policies. In the words of Pablo Uribe, head of migration at Ayuda en Acción, "public policies must ensure that people are not forced to migrate or stay, thus guaranteeing their right to decide freely and with dignity. To this end, it is essential to develop root-strengthening policies in the countries of origin that create decent living opportunities, promote safe migratory pathways, foster inclusion at the destination and facilitate the reintegration of returnees into their communities of origin.”

The report also highlights the urgent need to strengthen international cooperation focused on climate justice and the resilience of the most vulnerable communities, by enhancing the EU's collaboration with the Global South, especially with regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, prioritizing investments in sustainable infrastructure, just energy transitions and local development. In this way, it will be possible to pave the way for effective cooperation that addresses the root causes of forced migration and fosters sustainable and dignified rootedness in communities of origin.

Despite recent legislative advances and the recognition of the migration model in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the system still faces significant limitations to consolidate a truly human rights and social inclusion-based approach. The organization argues that the right to both mobility and immobility must be placed at the core of a fairer migration model that protects especially the most vulnerable groups. To this end, it proposes that national and international regulatory frameworks integrate immobile populations in their assessments, budgets and monitoring systems, along with measures such as integration packages, community-based programs that support people in irregular administrative situations, ensuring that the decision to migrate or stay is genuinely free, informed, and safe.