Background 

Since we live in a rapidly evolving world, besides pondering clinical practice in light of social and cultural changes, we need to foster a psychoanalysis that can intervene in new scenarios – in the consulting room, yes, but also outside of it. The broad goal of the “IPA in the Community” committees is to expand the scope of psychoanalysis, so that we can make the most of psychoanalysis’ potential.

Migration, and the plight of refugees, is a big issue currently in some countries, mainly in Europe, and one that also affects psychoanalysts. Not only does it have an impact on the population but also on the life and practice of analysts who live in countries that are strongly affected by this problem. We know that some governments are actively engaged in working with the effects of forced migrations and refugees and that there are existing successful psychoanalytically-oriented programmes and organizations that are already working with this issue. The IPA also has to have a voice and carry out studies in order to do “prevention” because this problem has an effect on families that are disintegrated and fragmented, children left by themselves and forced to arrive in an unfamiliar place with a language they don’t understand, facing an almost impossible mourning process of having lost everything they know. Due to many intergenerational studies, we know that this affects at least three generations, not just the refugees themselves. We are referring here mainly to forced migration.

Mandate

The Migration and Refugees sub-committee is mandated to:

1. Study the issue, mapping the psychoanalytic work done in this area, identifying all existing programmes/projects, finding out where people need help and it isn’t reaching them, and help to develop more projects.
2. Promote interchange between groups working in this area, through sharing experiences, build up common projects and help those working in this area.
3. Connect with child and family analysis: liaise with, and organise joint projects with, other related IPA Committees such as COCAP, Families & Couples, etc.
4. Dialogue with other disciplines, such as sociology, anthropology, the arts, etc.
5. Explore the possibility of using prizes to encourage new/highlight existing high-quality work involving psychoanalysis and migration/refugees.

The work will consist of two broad phases: i) urgent work and ii) primary prevention.

Ways of working and reporting

The Migration and Refugees sub-committee will be expected to do most of its work electronically, using GoToMeeting, or other free-to-use communication systems. The sub-committee, like all IPA committees, will be expected to be self-supporting for secretarial and other purposes. It will have access to the web and email support services offered by the IPA.

Any face-to-face meetings should take place, so far as possible, adjacent to IPA or regional congresses. The sub-committee will provide a written report to the Board at least annually.

Composition of the committee

The Migration and Refugees sub-committee will be composed of a Chair, plus three members (one from each region).

The sub-committee may request the appointment of Consultants to advise on specific issues as needed (Consultants will not be funded to attend in-person meetings).

Budget

The sub-committee will propose a budget (via the budget bid sent by the IPA and Humanitarian Organisations Committee) during the annual IPA budget cycle.

Approved by the Board June 2018