Investigating migration within a human security framework

Migration is both a quest for security, and an act that exposes one to new kinds of insecurity, especially for international migrants. We argue that a human security approach to researching migration issues can provide additional insights. It is migrant-centered and person-centered, systematically investigating the opportunities and vulnerabilities of complex persons. Human security adds an ontology that better grounds the work of explanation, evaluation and policy analysis. A literature review of the two areas (human security and migration studies) aids in revealing the issues at hand. The paper addresses gaps and weaknesses in the gender component of migration studies. A human security framework is not viewed as essential to the research, but may broach relevant, valuable and distinctive elements relating to theme of common security.