Maltese professor shares perspectives in the Refugee context

Critical analysis on the hierarchies of power in researches was offered in a lecture presented by the Professor of Youth and Community Studies in the University of Malta Maria Pisani. The lecture was organized by Birzeit University’s Institute of Community and Public Health, on April 6, 2017.

Pisani presented reflections that were drawn on the Participatory Action Research conducted on behalf of UNHCR in Malta. The research offers a sound understanding of the situation of refugees on which to build effective and equitable protection strategies for all individuals and groups, including refugees.

“There is an apparent increase in the refugees’ numbers coming from Libya, Eastern Africa and Syria especially in the past ten years. They vary in their ages, gender and race, and therefore, there must be certain ways to help each category integrate in the states of asylum.”

Pisani pointed out to the Participatory Action Research aims to carve a space of the voices of refugees to be heard.  The research, according to the professor, focused on joint planning means and accurate tools to help attain justice all around the world.

“The refugees themselves helped in achieving the research. It was thus characterized by a strong participatory component and democratic principles, wherein the voices of persons of concern are prioritized. The research sample was studies carefully to focus on all groups; women and children, in addition to the different nationalities and races,” she concluded.