Reimagining Borders and Rights: Migrant Activism, Racial Justice and Human Rights from Below

Migration is often discussed through the lens of state sovereignty, border control, and the “management” of human mobility. Yet migrants are not merely subjects of governance. Across different regions and political contexts, they have advanced new claims to rights and justice. This lecture explores how migrant activism has transformed contemporary debates on human rights by shifting attention from institutions and legal frameworks to struggles from below.

Drawing on examples from migrant-led movements and solidarity networks, especially in Germany, the lecture examines how migrants have expanded the meaning of legal norms by formulating rights claims that embed racial and border justice. Dr Perolini argues that many of the most significant innovations in human rights practice have emerged not from states or international organizations, but from collective action by those whose rights are routinely denied. He conceptualizes human rights as “mobile” as they are reshaped and transformed by migrant struggles for freedom of movement, racial justice and border abolitionism.

The lecture further explores the connections between migration, racism, colonial legacies, and contemporary justice struggles, highlighting how migrant movements have contributed to broader debates on racial and border justice. By foregrounding the perspectives and experiences of migrants themselves, it invites us to rethink human rights not as a fixed set of norms granted from above, but as an evolving field of political struggle shaped by those seeking justice. In doing so, it offers a framework for imagining more just futures beyond the constraints of borders and exclusionary citizenship.

Marco Perolini is a human rights research and policy expert currently working for the Global Law and Policy Program at Amnesty International. He conducts research and provides advice on civic space and authoritarian practices, with a specific focus on the criminalization of human rights defenders and disinformation. He previously designed and conducted research on intersectional discrimination, including the digital rights of marginalized groups. He holds a PhD in Political Sociology from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a master’s degree in Human Rights from the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies.