From June 19 to 21, as part of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, the 12th edition of the Human Rights Forum brought together researchers, artists, and policymakers to explore a timely theme: «Human Mobility and Cultural Dynamics». Across four panel discussions, mobility was examined not merely as an economic or geopolitical phenomenon, but as a dynamic space of exchange, where culture, history, and representation play a vital role. Historian Pascal Blanchard set the tone for the debate by grounding it in a fundamental anthropological truth: migration is a natural part of being human. Far from a banal observation, his statement situates migration within its long historical context, reminding us that «America was built by immigrants» and that while hostility toward newcomers may be «understandable», it is «entirely misguided», as opposition has always existed. In his ten-minute address, Blanchard focused particularly on the paradoxes of our time. Despite globalization supposedly enabling greater connection, «it's precisely when the world becomes a village that moving freely becomes more difficult». He attributed this to a longstanding «fear of mixing», a phenomenon with deep historical roots that now finds new forms of expression, particularly through digital technologies. Three Contemporary Shocks Blanchard identified three major «shocks» shaping current migration debates. The first is demographic and economic: «Do you want to receive twice the pension?» A seemingly simple question that speaks to the challenges of aging Western societies. The second is global inequality: «Most countries won't be able to remain wealthy» as wealth is redistributed on a global scale. The third, and perhaps most unpredictable, is the climate crisis: «Climate risk is equivalent to the risk of war», Blanchard warned, given its power to trigger massive and unforeseen population movements. The Political Instrumentalization of Migration The conversation then turned to the increasingly politicized nature of migration. Andrea Rea, a sociology professor in Belgium, spoke of a «toxic instrumentalization» that has come to permeate broader societal debates. Migration, he noted, is now wielded as diplomatic leverage between countries. This dynamic cuts across traditional political lines. As Blanchard pointed out, «Donald Trump wasn't elected only by white men. White women voted for him too and so did many minorities». Opinions on migration, he argued, are far more nuanced, even among the communities most affected. Blanchard called for a fundamental rethinking of how migration is approached, as a means of combating the global rise of the far right. That begins, he argued, with education by «deconstructing xenophobia». Xenophobia, he insisted, «is not abstract. It's a culture», rooted in colonial history and sustained by historical stereotypes. Today's youth, he added, reject these outdated narratives. For them, the fear of the Other «can no longer hold». And as Blanchard powerfully concluded: «What we need to change is not human mobility, but the fixity of our fears». The new generation, he believes, may well drive that change. Culture as a Universal Tool «Culture opens doors when it listens rather than judges or rejects, it softens migration». These words from documentary filmmaker Kamal Redouani, who has worked extensively in conflict zones such as Syria, brought a deeply human perspective to the discussion. Sharing the story of Marwa, a young actress from Aleppo forced into exile, he emphasized how «culture gives people a voice of dignity». His message resonated particularly within the Moroccan context, where cultural diversity is a strength. The very fact that this forum was held during the Gnaoua and World Music Festival is a testament to that. Redouani also stressed the importance of «making room» for migrants and seeing the people behind the numbers. «We talk about statistics, but we forget where they've been», he said, recalling a poignant encounter with an elderly man on the road to exile: «I left my home behind, but I did not leave my memory». A sentence that, on its own, captures the strength, resilience, and dignity of those who continue to move forward despite having no guarantees for tomorrow. Crossing Borders Through Screens In an era where physical borders are increasingly blurred by digital networks, historian Yvan Gastaut posed a new question: how do we rethink migration in a hyper-connected world? He spoke of the «deterritorialization» brought about by constant digital access: «Will our longing for elsewhere be satisfied by this deterritorialization, which ultimately reduces the weight of physical space?» Gastaut's reflection challenges us to reconsider the mobilities of tomorrow. While digital platforms symbolically erase borders and offer access to other cultures, they also risk creating a homogenized world. The world appears more open but at the cost of a growing uniformity that raises as many concerns as it does hopes.
