Conference Theme

Never before in modern history have so many people been forced to leave their homes and journey abroad for temporary or permanent settlement. According to the UNHCR Mid-Term June 2015 report, “by the end of 2015, 65.3 million individuals were forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, generalized violence or human rights violations.”

Much attention in the west has been directed at the steady flow of refugees leaving war-torn countries to end up on the shores of the Mediterranean. However, many of the displaced remain neglected or forgotten; travelling little watched corridors en route to temporary destinations in detention centers, refugee camps, or makeshift housing. These hierarchies of human mobility hide the precarious nature of the lives of millions of migrants, demanding attention and engagement to make meaningful transformations.

Join researchers, policy makers and activists from diverse disciplines and regions to discuss the parameters of global displacement, especially the experiences of those taking routes less traveled. 

This conference was a signature University of Victoria Canada 150 Event. 

This conference was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.