Moving with Dignity: A Positive Peace Approach to Migration is a milestone publication by QCEA. It is grounded in a positive peace & human rights approach to migration. It recognises the close connection between violent conflict, peacebuilding, and international migration. Therefore, the handbook proposes a peaceful approach to migration that prioritises the happiness and well-being of all people.
Dr Majbritt Lyck-Bowen, author of the handbook, introduces the publication, explains the theory behind it and explains why learning about the positive peace approach to migration remains relevant today.
Watch to get a first glimpse of the publication and learn more about how to use it.
Explore the different parts of the handbook.
Explore our handbook in full by reading different chapters.
Context of current migration
Understanding why people move means looking beyond headlines and into the systems that shape migration.
Challenging the Current Approach to Migration: Seven Problematic and Harmful Practices
A critical look at the harmful practices that continue to endanger and dehumanize migrants worldwide.
A Positive Peace Approach to Migration
Explore how peacebuilding principles can transform migration from crisis management to long-term change.
A Positive Peace Approach to Migration in Countries of Origin Without Violent Conflict
Explore how local peacebuilding, inclusive politics, and climate justice can prevent displacement before conflict begins.
Positive Peace Approach to Migration in Country of Origin During Violent Conflict
Discover how peace negotiations, gender-sensitive approaches, and structural reform can support those forced to flee conflict zones.
A Positive Peace Approach to Migration in Countries of Transition
Learn how to build safer journeys through just work, access to healthcare, and ending detention and forced removals.
Positive peace approach to Returning
to the Country of Origin After Violent Conflict
Uncover how labour access, family reunification, and anti-discrimination efforts can foster real inclusion.
A Positive Peace Approach to Migration
in Country of Destination
Explore justice, psychosocial support, and community dialogue as foundations for safe and dignified return.
Discover our handbook, story by story, by exploring the key quotes from it.
A Positive Peace approach looks beyond the absence of violence to address the structural and cultural roots of injustice. In migration, this means building fairer systems that prevent forced displacement, reduce harm in transit, and support integration with dignity.
No—it’s completely free. The Moving with Dignity handbook is available as a free resource, both online and in print (while copies last), to ensure it can be widely used by practitioners, policymakers, educators, and communities working for more humane and just migration systems.
The handbook is designed for:
No. The principles apply to any country in the world that is a country of origin, transit or destination for migrants. Taking into account local context and involving local people are key principles of the positive peace approach described in the handbook and that would need to be taken into account when implementing the practices described in the handbook in different parts of the world.
It explores the role of peace in all stages of migration:
Not at all. While the handbook introduces key theoretical concepts—like Positive Peace and structural violence—it is firmly grounded in practice. It includes a wide range of real-world examples, showcasing how peace-oriented migration policies and programmes are already being implemented across different countries and contexts.
Moving with Dignity takes a unique approach by framing migration policy through the lens of peacebuilding, not just law or humanitarian response. It looks at the deeper systems and structures that shape migration, offering long-term, dignity-focused solutions rooted in justice, equity, and nonviolence.
The handbook can be used to:
Promote inclusive dialogue across sectors
The handbook’s recommendations can be mainstreamed by integrating Positive Peace principles into policy design, training programmes, funding frameworks, and local project planning. Stakeholders can use the ten peacebuilding principles as a checklist to assess migration policies and practices, share the handbook in institutional or civil society settings, and apply its examples as models for replication or adaptation. Cross-sector collaboration and dialogue are key to embedding these ideas into everyday governance.
Absolutely. The handbook is well-suited for use in trainings, workshops, academic courses, and community discussions. It includes clear explanations of key concepts, real-world examples, and ten guiding principles—making it a practical tool for both formal and informal learning.
Yes. Please email us at celina.bebenek@qcea.org with your name and address to request a physical copy, while supplies last.
At the moment, yes. We are looking for help in translating all or parts of the handbook in other languages and already have some offers. You will find translations on the webpage as they become available and we will let people know they are there on our social media (FB/ LinkedIn & Bluesky) and in our newsletter
Would you like to help this handbook to reach wider audience? Then help us to translate! We will update this page with different landuage version.
Discover current multilingual content here:
For now you can read following chapters in Arabic:
For now you can read following chapters in French:
For now you can read following chapters in Polish:
Na razie możesz przeczytać następujące treści po polsku:
For now you can read following chapters in Dutch:
Our work would not be possible without the work of multiple supportive individuals.
We would like to thank Iman Soliman, Yousra Salah Ibrahim, Rhea van der Horst, Jan Szczepaniak, Frank van Pernis, Valeria Eboli, and Marianne Mupota for your support with translation.
We also would like to thank Dieter Müller for the support designing this webpage and Eric Dries for the beautiful illustrations.
