The campaign 'Words Matter' is run by the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) and promotes the use of accurate terminology to refer to migrants without residence status avoiding the use of ‘illegal’ migrant or migration.
The term 'illegal‘ migrant should not be used because it:
- Implies criminality. A person can never be ‘illegal’. Migration is not a crime.
- Is discriminatory. ‘Illegality’ as a status is only applied to migrants and used to deny them their rights.
- Has real impacts on policy and public perception. Inaccurate language leads society to accept that people should be prosecuted and punished.
To help promote the campaign to institutions, media and policymakers, the team launched a leaflet in June 2014 in seven languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Greek, Dutch and Italian)
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
1. COMMIT
- Use fair terminology when referring to undocumented migrants inform friends or colleagues of the importance to use ‘undocumented’ and ‘irregular’ or the equivalent in your language.
2. SHARE YOUR STORY
- If you are an undocumented migrant, or a supporter of undocumented migrants, send PICUM your personal experiences of how discriminating ternminology and discourse has impacted your daily reality
- If you hear reports by media, or policymakers etc. speaking in discriminatory language about undocumented migrants, send a message to PICUM via email or social media and share the source
- Submit a photo, written statement or video highlighting why you think accurate terminology is important and what you are doing to ensure fair language to PICUM
- Send a photo of the word undocumented or irregular in your language like in the photo above to PICUM
3. JOIN THE CONVERSATION
- With the hashtag #WordsMatter on Twitter
- By following PICUM Facebook and Twitter social media accounts
Find out more on PICUM's website
