NEWSLETTER Week of April 27th 2017

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NEWSLETTER
Week of April 27th 2017
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Libya at the Centre of Meeting with the International Organization for Migration

04/04/2017. William Lacy Swing, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (OIM), was received in the Magistral Palace by the Grand Chancellor of the Order of Malta, Albrecht Boeselager. One of the key elements of the meeting was the difficult situation in Libya and the prospects and efforts of IOM and the Order of Malta to normalize the situation in the country and cut back migrant smuggling.

Two weeks ago in Rome the Order of Malta hosted a meeting between institutions – including OIM – and Libyan representatives to discuss the phenomenon of migration in Libya, the departure point of 90 percent of migrants arriving on the Italian coasts.

During today’s meeting, the global compact on migration was discussed. This is a process launched by the UN for Member States to adopt a treaty by 2018 that commits them to address the migration crisis, protect the rights of refugees, support countries involved in the migrations and combat exploitation and xenophobia. “The global compact represents an extraordinary opportunity that we cannot afford to miss,” asserted Ambassador Swing.

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LATEST PUBLISHED ARTICLES

Towards a “Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration”: For a permanent dialogue on migration

26/04/2017. Strengthening international cooperation on migration and migration governance with a view to adopting a Global Compact for Safe and Orderly Migration in 2018 is The objective set by the international community at the New York Summit on Refugees and Migrants on 19 September 2016.

After the meetings in Geneva on 5, 6 and 7 April of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), a first workshop on the International Dialogue on Migration – IDM) to contribute to the preparatory work of the Covenant was held in New York on 18 and 19 April.

This first International Migration Dialogue (IDM) of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) since IOM joined the United Nations last year, brought together more than 300 representatives of States, Civil society and other key players in the field.

Participants made recommendations to develop coherence between different levels of migration governance, to promote mechanisms for cooperation on migration and to identify concrete elements for the creation of a global migration framework.

“The Global Compact represents a historic opportunity to achieve the goal of a world where migrants move by choice rather than necessity, a world of safe, orderly and regular migration opportunities and a world in which Migration is well managed and represents a positive force for individuals, societies and states, “said William Lacy Swing, IOM Director General, in his opening address. “IOM is creating a Global Compact that will put the needs, capabilities and contributions of migrants in the heart of its mission to ensure their security, dignity and fundamental rights. ”

IOM’s International Dialogue on Migration Sets Stage for Global Compact on Migration Consultations

04/18/17. IOM’s two-day (18-19 April) International Dialogue on Migration (IDM) 2017 meeting with the theme, Strengthening International Cooperation on and Governance of Migration towards the Adoption of a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration in 2018, gets underway at the United Nations in New York later today.

The IDM gathers States and key migration actors from all relevant sectors to exchange views and identify concrete and implementable actions for strengthening international cooperation and migration governance.

It is an opportunity for States and all relevant migration actors to frame the core objectives for the global compact, and ground it in the existing normative structures and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

IOM Director General William Lacy Swing will say in his opening remarks later today, “The Global Compact presents an historical opportunity to achieve a world in which migrants move as a matter of genuine choice rather than necessity; a world of opportunity to migrate through safe, orderly and regular channels; and a world in which migration is well governed and is able to act as a positive force for individuals, societies and States.”

IOM DG Swing’s Statement at the Syria Brussels Conference

04/05/2017. Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,

On behalf of the International Organization for Migration, I have the honor to submit to you a few considerations in this session dedicated to the future of Syria:

The future of Syria will be grim if current needs are not being addressed with a greater sense of urgency. 7 years into the conflict, there is no end in sight for the suffering and deprivation endured by the over 10 million Syrians who have been forced to leave their homes. Despite sporadic and partial halts to the fighting, Syrians continue to face, every day, a level of hardship that is almost unheard of in recent times. In 2016 alone, 4,000 people were displaced every day inside Syria, because of insecurity, because their houses were destroyed, because they had no more access to basic services, because they had lost their livelihood.

Humanitarian partners have stayed alongside Syrians and delivered assistance to millions of people in their homes, collective centers, camps, schools and hospitals. They have done so despite the danger, despite the deliberate attacks, the pressures and, sometimes, the increased politicization of the response. And while humanitarian responders will continue to be there for Syrians as long as it is required, the humanitarian band aid can only go so far. Solutions may only be political and will require compromises by all parties to the conflict.

The Migrant Boon

04/07/2017 by Ian Goldin and Jonathan Woetzel.

Many of the immigration debates now raging around the world reflect the faulty assumption that admitting immigrants is an act of largesse – and a costly one, at that. But, far from being an economic burden, immigrants represent a major economic opportunity for destination countries. Those countries that take a thoughtful, long-term approach to immigration can capture large and tangible benefits.

New research from the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) shows that cross-border migrants – more than 90% of whom have moved for economic reasons – comprise just 3.4% of the world’s population, but contribute nearly 10% of global GDP. Because roughly two-thirds of these migrants reside in developed countries, where productivity tends to be highest, they are maximizing the impact of their work, with far-reaching economic benefits. Migrants of all skill levels contribute to this effect.

Risk of Death from Starvation Grows in Africa

04/11/2017 by Lisa Schlein. United Nations and international aid agencies warn the chances are growing for mass deaths from starvation in the Horn of Africa, Yemen, Nigeria, and South Sudan. Lack of money is pushing the humanitarian crisis ever closer.

Aid agencies are haunted by the specter of the 2011 famine in the Horn of Africa, which killed more than 260,000 people, half of them children under age five. They do not want a repeat of that tragedy, but say they fear the severity of the current humanitarian crisis gripping Yemen, the Horn of Africa and neighboring countries could result in an even worse outcome.

The U.N. refugee agency reports hunger and conflict are forcing increasing numbers of people to flee within their countries and across borders in search of food and refuge. UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards says refugee numbers are escalating.

“Consecutive harvests have failed, conflict in South Sudan coupled with drought is leading to famine and outflows of refugees, insecurity in Somalia is leading to rising internal displacement, and rates of malnutrition are high, especially among children and lactating mothers,” he said.

IOM Learns of ‘Slave Market’ Conditions Endangering Migrants in North Africa

04/11/2017. Over the past weekend, IOM staff in Niger and Libya documented shocking events on North African migrant routes, which they have described as ‘slave markets’ tormenting hundreds of young African men bound for Libya.

Operations Officers with IOM’s office in Niger, reported on the rescue of a Senegalese migrant (referred to as SC to protect his identity) who this week was returning to his home after being held captive for months.

According to SC’s testimony, while trying to travel north through the Sahara, he arrived in Agadez, Niger, where he was told he would have to pay 200,000 CFA (about USD 320) to continue north, towards Libya. A trafficker provided him with accommodation until the day of his departure, which was to be by pick-up truck.

The journey – over two days of travelling – through the desert was relatively smooth for this group. IOM has often heard from other migrants on this route who report seeing the remains of others abandoned by their drivers – and of trucks ransacked by bandits who siphon away their fuel.

Unity within Security Council vital to prevent mass atrocities – UN chief Guterres

04/18/2017. Briefing the Security Council, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today stressed the importance of unity in the 15-member body to effectively address human rights violations as well as to prevent mass atrocities.

“Article 24 of the UN Charter is clear: the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security rests with this Council ‘in order to ensure prompt and effective action’,” said Mr. Guterres, speaking on the theme of Human Rights and the Prevention of Armed Conflict.

“We must collectively draw strength from the letter and spirit of the Charter to better prevent armed conflict and sustain peace through development [by] ensuring effective protection of all human rights – civil, political, economic, social and cultural,” he added.

Vatican seminar on water pushes for better public policies

02/24/2017. A 2-day seminar aiming to propose much needed public policies for water and sanitation management is underway in the Vatican.

Organized by the Vatican Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the seminar is entitled “The human right to water: An interdisciplinary focus and contributions on the central role of public policies in water and sanitation management”.
The workshop focuses on the potential and effective contribution of science, culture, politics and technological advancements to the attainment of a fairer world of greater social justice and solidarity.
One of the participants, Father Peter Hughes, a missionary priest who has spent his life working in the Amazon region, pointed out that water management impacts many issues including peace and the prevention of conflicts.