MIGRANTS WORSE OFF THAN OTHER WORKERS DURING RECESSION, WARNS UN OFFICIAL

New York, Nov 4 2009 2:10PM
The global economic crisis is having a particular impact on the well-being of those who cross borders seeking better opportunities for themselves and their families, a senior United Nations official said today, noting that migrants are often the first to suffer job losses or worsening working conditions.

“While the impact is not the same in all countries and regions, globally speaking, worsening economic conditions and more restrictive policies for labour movements have led to a slowdown of migration and remittance flows,” said Carlos Lopes, Executive Director of the UN Institute for Training and Research (<"http://www.unitar.org/">UNITAR) and Chair-in-Office of the Global Migration Group (GMG).

Established in 2006, the GMG is an inter-agency effort aimed at enhancing cooperation between UN agencies, the International Organization for Migration (<"http://www.iom.int/jahia/jsp/index.jsp">IOM) and the <"http://www.worldbank.org/">World Bank in the field of international migration.

Addressing the Global Forum on Migration and Development, which opened today in Athens, Mr. Lopes noted that remittances are a major source of foreign income for developing countries, especially at a time when foreign direct investment (FDI) has declined owing to the economic slowdown.

While remittances remain relatively resilient, the World Bank forecasts that flows to all developing regions will decline between 7 and 10 per cent in 2009.

“Many countries which depend upon these flows will be adversely affected not only economically, but also socially. Households that receive fewer remittances are under pressure to cut back on expenses.

“Too often this will negatively affect development outcomes, for example in the area of children’s and especially girls’ education and health,” said Mr. Lopes.

The recession has also led many States to adopt restrictive requirements for obtaining entry, legal residence and work permits. Mr. Lopes noted that curtailing regular migration tends to increase irregular flows that are more risky for migrants, particularly the most vulnerable such as unaccompanied minors.

“Additional restrictions can also reinforce the impression that migration is a questionable, criminal phenomenon, thereby contributing to anti-migrant, xenophobic reactions in destination countries,” he stated.

“From a development perspective, such measures risk slowing down the resumption of growth,” he said, adding that migration policy should keep sight of its development implications as it adapts to the crisis.

In addition, he stressed that migration policies and practices must be rooted in human rights, and that States must be vigilant against xenophobic sentiments and discriminatory practices prompted by the economic crisis.

The recently released 2009 UN Human Development Report, entitled <i>Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development</i>, called for wide-ranging reforms to maximize the gains from migration and to protect the rights of migrants – now estimated to be one out of every seven persons in the world.

The report, written by independent experts and commissioned by the UN Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org/">UNDP), proposes reforms to migration policies in source and destination countries that it says are politically feasible and will increase people’s freedom and strengthen human development.

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ERA OF INCREASED MOBILITY REQUIRES BETTER PROTECTION OF MIGRANTS’ RIGHTS, SAYS BAN

New York, Nov 4 2009 9:10AM
In an era where people are crossing borders in greater numbers seeking better opportunities, it is more vital than ever that States safeguard the rights of migrants, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a high-level gathering in Athens today.

“Let us never forget than in the end, policies and laws are really about people and values,” he said in his remarks to the opening of the third Global Forum on Migration and Development.

The Secretary-General noted that the number of international migrants today is greater than at anytime in history, with 214 million people living outside their country of birth.

Highlighting the good that such mobility can generate, he said that, when managed well, global migration greatly improves human welfare and development. Also, migrants contribute to development in their homelands by transferring remittances and transmitting new ideas and technologies.

Meanwhile, in countries of destination, migrants fill gaps in labour demand and skills to make the economy more productive.

“But we have work ahead of us,” he told the gathering. “Around the world, migration is often the subject of shrill debate – a wedge to provoke social tensions, drive political extremes, fan the flames of discrimination and hatred.

“We cannot yet say that the development potential of international migration is being fully realized. We cannot yet declare that the rights of migrants are being fully respected.”

He noted that the conditions in which many migrants move and live continue to be “treacherous,” that human trafficking and sexual exploitation are disturbing realities and, in many parts of the world, migrant workers still face appalling working conditions.

Mr. Ban called on all countries to work together to tackle migration, highlighting three challenges that add to the urgency for action – the economic crisis, climate change, and the scourge of human trafficking, particularly of women and girls.

“As we look to these challenges, we recognize that in many ways, migration is not just a journey of people – it is a journey of policy,” he said.

“Our destination is a global system of mobility that allows people to move in legal, safe and orderly ways – with full respect for their dignity.”

While in the Greek capital, Mr. Ban is also scheduled to address a special session of Parliament and meet with senior Government officials, including Prime Minister George Papandreou and President Karolos Papoulias.

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INDEPENDENT UN EXPERT URGES MAURITANIA TO DO MORE TO END SLAVERY PRACTICES

New York, Nov 4 2009 10:10AM
While noting the significant steps that have been taken in Mauritania to tackle slavery, an independent United Nations human rights expert today called for a comprehensive strategy to put an end to this scourge, warning of its impact on the country’s future.

“Unaddressed, slavery in all its forms may be an obstacle to the stability, sustainable development and prosperity of Mauritania,” <"http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=9596&LangID=e">said Gulnara Shahinian, the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, at the end of her visit to the country.

During her visit, Ms. Shahinian met with various Government authorities, international organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and visited communities in Atar, Rosso and the capital, Nouakchott.

She met with people who told her that they had been victims of slavery practices such as serfdom and domestic servitude.

“These victims said that they were utterly deprived of their basic human rights,” she said in a news release. “Having no alternative, they voluntarily stay or after fleeing, return back to slavery. This perpetuates the vicious circle of slavery for men, women and children. The women I met felt that they were the most vulnerable as they suffer triple discrimination firstly as women, secondly, as mothers and thirdly as slaves.”

She commended the country for taking legal measures to eradicate all forms of slavery, including the passing in 2007 of the law criminalizing the phenomenon, which she said sends “a clear message that slavery can never be tolerated in Mauritania.”

She recommended that a sustained awareness-raising campaign be carried out in the urban and rural areas to make all Mauritanians aware of the law. In addition, to encourage victims to come forward, she suggested that the slavery law include provisions that offer victim assistance and socio-economic programmes for their reintegration into society.

“A comprehensive and holistic national strategy specifically addressing slavery that includes awareness raising, access to basic services and income-generating activities is required in order to effectively put an end to this phenomenon,” said the Special Rapporteur.

Ms. Shahinian, who was appointed to her post in May 2008, works in an independent and unpaid capacity, and reports to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council.

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