This report is the result of a two-year project undertaken jointly by CIVICUS – the global civil society alliance – and the Solidarity Center, which promotes worker rights worldwide. The research included fieldwork in five countries, in partnership with Wadi in Germany, Phenix Center for Economic and Informatics Studies in Jordan, Kituo Cha Sheria in Kenya, the Geutanyoe Foundation (focused on refugees) and the North South Initiative (focused on migrant workers) in Malaysia and Sin Fronteras in Mexico.

Through two in-depth surveys, one of migrant workers and another of refugees, this study sought to understand more about the main challenges faced by migrant workers and refugees in exercising their rights to the fundamental freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression; the factors that make them more likely to try to assert their rights and the factors that make them more vulnerable to violations and abuses; and the perpetrators and enablers of denials of their rights.