The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group Ministers of Asylum, Migration and Mobility are urging its members to establish and enforce legislations to combat racism, and xenophobia in a resolution adopted today (May 30th) in Brussels, Belgium.

The ACP Group Brussels Resolution on Migration and Development, adopted by the ACP Ministers at the close of their two-day meeting, also highlights the need for a holistic approach to address the inter-linkages between migration, conflict and development.

It also wants the ACP Group to ratify the relevant legal frameworks to tackle human trafficking and smuggling.

 The ministers also called for the enforcement of migrant rights’, through the ratification of relevant international instruments, and address the situation of undocumented labour.

The report further recommends the development and promotion of innovative solutions for curbing illegal migration and brain-drain in ACP countries of origin through brain gain and circulation by the implementation of flexible migration programmes.

ACP Ministers also undertake to conduct research and promote the role of migrants’ and diasporas’ networks to share experience and positive aspects of migration.

Chairlady of the Meeting and Minister of State and Immigration of the Bahamas, Senator Elma Campbell, told journalists that she was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.

She explained that as a result it now put them in a right direction for their participation later this year in the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Manila, the Philippines.

On migration and development, the ministers endorse the adoption of measures to combat the growing practice of dumping toxic wastes in ACP waters and territories.

They also agreed to formulate policies and legal frameworks to address the negative impacts of climate change, such as land degradation, draughts, rising sea-levels, floods, hurricanes, cyclones and coastal erosion in ACP states and regions, particularly Small Islands Developing States.

Meanwhile the ministers invited the ACP Secretariat and the European Commission to jointly develop a high quality All-ACP Know How Transfer Programme, mobilizing existing ACP human capacity in support of development projects and programmes through short term missions in ACP.

ACP Secretary General Sir John Kaputin, in commending the ministers, said they have advanced the debate on the nexus between migration and development.

“Your commitments will allow the ACP Group to remain at the forefront of the global debate on migration,’’ he said in his closing remarks at the end of the workshop.

He urged the ministers to join hands and build a better future for the people of ACP as migration fosters innovation.

Migration ministers from ACP countries took part in the two-day meeting, debating issues relating to asylum, migration and mobility issues.

Some pushed for the ACP to take a firm stand at the world stage especially fighting the negative sides of migration.

They acknowledged that migration can’t be stopped because people will continue to move.

They instead suggested that control mechanisms be put in place to address migration.

The Brussels Declaration underlines ACP Group’s efforts to address the problem.

For details contact:

iroga@acp.int