Global Changemakers Workshop 2025: Seminar on Global Migration with Ukraine’s Participation Held in Colombia
From October 1 to 5, the Aspen Institute Colombia hosted the Global Changemakers Workshop 2025 in Bogotá, Colombia. Oleksandr Osipov, the Representative of the Commissioner for Equal Rights and Freedoms, Rights of National Minorities, and Political and Religious Views represented Ukraine. The main theme of this year’s workshop was global migration.
“The world speaks about the reasons behind migration — the search for safety, dignity, and new opportunities. For Ukrainians, this issue today is inseparable from the realities of war. I felt that for the global Aspen community, it is important to hear the Ukrainian voice,” shared Oleksandr Osipov.
Representatives from India, New Zealand, Kenya, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Italy, and other countries took part in the workshop. They discussed how to make migration more humane and inclusive. The main conclusion: most migration occurs for economic reasons.
Participants emphasized that migration should be viewed through the lens of domestic policy — understanding why people migrate. For Ukraine, the primary reason is Russia’s military aggression. However, it is also important to consider global trends and the factors that Ukrainians may experience after the war ends.
Aspen Institute Kyiv expresses its gratitude to the Aspen Institute International Partners and the Aspen Institute Colombia for the opportunity to participate in and contribute to a shared international dialogue on the challenges of our time.
About the Global Changemakers Workshop
The Global Changemakers Workshop is a flagship program of the Aspen Institute International Partners, designed for young professionals aged 25–35 from around the world. Through dialogue and seminars, participants seek answers to some of the most pressing challenges facing democracy today.
