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Living in a country and being exposed to a unique way of doing things, behaving, eating and living are the main essences of our cultural diversity. Each nationality is just a combination of many years of human behavior learning and development, but what does it mean to have a nationality? &nbsp;In sociology, the study of human society's development, structure, and functioning, nationality refers to your country of citizenship. That is, in most cases, the country in which you were born and live.&nbsp;However, sometimes the word nationality is wrongly used to define ethnicity; the two are very different. People can share the same nationality but be of different ethnic groups. Likewise, people who share an ethnic identity can be of different nationalities.Let's fragment these concepts for better understanding.&nbsp;<ul><li>Nationality: Country of citizenship</li><li>Citizenship: being a citizen of a particular country and protected under that country's rights, laws, and privileges for which you have a civil obligation.&nbsp;</li><li>Ethnicity: a social group that shares a common and distinctive culture, religion, or language. For example, being Hispanic. Hispanics share the Spanish language and general cultural identity, with some geographical differences, but can be of any race.&nbsp;</li><li>Migrant: a person who moves from one place to another, especially to find work or better living conditions.</li><li>Asylum Seeker: a person who has left their home country as a political refugee seeking asylum in another.&nbsp;</li><li>Political Refugee: a refugee from an oppressive government.</li><li>Refugee: a person who has been forced to leave their country to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.</li></ul> &nbsp;<h1>Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reducing Inequality within and Among Countries</h1>Now that we have defined the basics, let's explore the UN Sustainable Development Goal 10, which aims at reducing inequality within and among countries. Goal target 10.7 calls for developing well-managed migration policies that are equal for all, ending discrimination and allowing access to basic human needs to disadvantaged groups around the world.&nbsp;By mid-2020, the number of people who had fled their countries running from war, conflict, persecution, and human rights violations had grown to 24 million, the highest number on record. That is 24 million people who have left their homes behind in search of a better life.&nbsp;Reportedly in 2019, more than half of 111 Governments with available data reported having a comprehensive migration policy. This policy allowed them to facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people. However, further examination might be required as the data collection techniques varied significantly amongst the countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h1>Refugees Today - A Global Issue&nbsp;</h1>The UN Refugee Agency, <a href="https://www.unrefugees.org/">UNHRC.org</a>, reported (Oct 2021) that 32 Afghan asylum-seekers, including women and children, were stranded in border areas between Belarus and Poland, Latvia and Lithuania, just a few days ago. Some have spent weeks in increasingly bad and freezing conditions in the border regions and are being repeatedly pushed back when they attempt to cross borders and prevented from applying for asylum. UNHCR warned today that their situation will further deteriorate as winter approaches.The agency has urged the countries concerned to abide by their international legal obligations to provide access to asylum for those seeking it at their borders.However, situations like this happen more often than none. In many areas of the world, people are faced with obstacles and barriers when seeking refuge in other countries. Also, in some instances, citizens are afraid of refugees and their impact on their local communities. This fear leads to discrimination, and discrimination leads to conflict.&nbsp;Governments need to create clear pathways to guarantee peaceful agreements that protect refugees and their country's citizens. More and better communication, as well as clear goals and procedures, are urgently needed.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h1>When you are the Immigrant: Things to Consider&nbsp;</h1>Moving or visiting y is not as easy as packing up and leaving. In most cases, even when you are going on holiday, you need to make sure you have the required paperwork to enter and stay in a country legally.&nbsp;All migrants looking to enter a country will need to apply for permission in advance. For some countries, you need a VISA before you enter, even if just visiting. A VISA is an endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is allowed to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in a country. Additionally, when moving into another country, you also need to consider "Work permits", which allow you to work legally and pay taxes. Breaking these conditions is regarded as an illegal act.&nbsp;Migration policies usually are there to protect both the migrants and the country's citizens. Therefore, a migration policy must include laws, regulations, decisions, or orders regarding the selection, admission, settlement, and deportation of foreign citizens residing in the country.

All over the world, the term migration evokes different emotions in people. It is associated with pride or shame, depending on the context and the situation in which each migration occurs. The right to seek asylum is a universal human right that applies to people fleeing persecution or conflict regardless of their legal status. No one should be left behind.

Migration, Citizens of the World 

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Thinking Cap On:&nbsp;Ask your friends or family if they have travelled or migrated to another country to tell you about the barriers and opportunities they faced when making that decision. Is there a country you'd like to visit one day? Do some research about the entry requirements and compare them to those in the country where you live.&nbsp;

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Social inequality is the existence of unequal opportunities and rewards for different social positions or statuses within a group or society. For example, child poverty and lacking access to education and essential needs such as food and shelter are forms of social inequality.&nbsp;Social inequality can happen in multiple ways, and it is not always as noticeable. Remember that next time at school or even when you are posting on social media, not everyone might have the same access to products and information as you do. To prevent this, we need to look into social inclusion.&nbsp;The United Nations defines Social Inclusion as improving participation in society, particularly for disadvantaged people, by enhancing opportunities and allowing access to resources. For these people, participation may be hindered due to the lack of access to material resources, such as income, employment, land and housing, or such services as education and health care.&nbsp;Think of it this way, if you don't have the ingredients needed for baking a cake, it doesn't matter how hard you try to make one. You won't be able to; the same happens when people don't have access to education, jobs, or houses.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thinking Cap OnImagine you have to do a school project about Whales, and you don't have access to the internet at home or access to a smartphone. What would you do? Where do you start looking for information, and how long do you think it will take you to gather all the information you need? Consider the local resources available.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h1>Closing Gaps with Digital Inclusion&nbsp;</h1>Digital inclusion, or rather, reducing digital exclusion, is about making sure that people can use the internet to do things that benefit their day to day activities. This includes knowing how to use a computer or smartphone and having access to technology. Many people around the world live in areas without internet access, even in the United States. Some people simply don't have the money to own a computer or smartphone at home; Which means, not only they cannot use their phones for games or social media, but also they can't purchase goods online, access online banking, access educational resources or information needed to do their jobs.&nbsp;This is known as digital poverty.&nbsp;Believe it or not, 21 million Americans still lack access to a broadband-level internet connection. Roughly 146 million people in the U.S. (about 45 per cent of the population, or equivalent to the entire population of Russia) do not have access to a low-priced plan for residential wired broadband.**https://broadbandnow.com/report/2019-digital-inclusion-trailblazers/&nbsp;This happens all over the world. In some countries, the internet is not even accessible to students, even from their schools. This means learning, researching and getting access to information becomes impossible for these kids. Without access to educational resources, employment also becomes harder to obtain and, therefore, poverty.&nbsp;<h1> Tackling Digital Poverty&nbsp;</h1>In 2014, in Portland, Oregon, the&nbsp; <a href="https://www.portlandoregon.gov/oct/73860">Digital Inclusion Network</a> was formed. A coalition aimed at "raising awareness about digital barriers and developing solutions to bridging the digital divide". The group has held an annual <a href="https://www.portlandoregon.gov/OCT/76093">Digital Inclusion Summit</a> and the <a href="https://www.portlandoregon.gov/oct/76094">"Digital Inclusion Week" </a>for the city since 2018.&nbsp;In Austin, Texas, the <a href="http://austinpathways.org/unlocking-the-connection/">Unlocking The Connection</a> program helps bring free internet access to low-income communities, refurbished computers and digital literacy courses. Additionally, the city's Grant For Technology Opportunities Program (GTOPs) provides financial assistance for upgrading computer labs and improving free, basic web access for all residents.The City of Raleigh in North Carolina initiated the <a href="https://raleighnc.gov/Community/content/HousingNeighborhoods/Articles/DigitalInclusionPrograms.html">Digital Connectors</a> program, improving access, awareness, and digital education in the city since 2011.&nbsp;Boston, Massachusetts, has long been a champion for digital inclusion, with their <a href="https://www.techgoeshome.org/">Tech Goes on with the Home program</a>. 94% of Boston's residents are now connected to the internet with broadband-level speeds, and new initiatives, such as the Digital Equity Fund, are working toward closing the digital poverty gap, ensuring that all residents have the means and skill to thrive in a digital economy.&nbsp;How would you change the world?&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Social inequality is the existence of unequal opportunities and rewards for different social positions or statuses within a group or society.

Mind the Gap: Reducing Inequality & Promoting Digital Inclusion

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Thinking Cap On: &nbsp;Imagine a world in which everyone has access to digital literacy and technology. What would you do to help children from your community use digital resources to develop future economies?&nbsp;

Reduce Inequalities

Migration, Citizens of the World

Mind the Gap: Reducing Inequality & Promoting Digital Inclusion