| ACP wants positive measures, policies to protect migrants for development ACP PRESS STATEMENT
BRUSSELS: African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group Secretary General Sir John Kaputin has called for joint forces and building of partnerships to seek positive measures and policies to protect and empower migrants for development. Addressing the Second Global Forum on Migration and Development in Manila, the Philippines, on Wednesday, Sir John said it is important that the voices of developing countries such as the member states of the ACP Group be heard within the context of the debate on Migration and Development, as these countries represent the greatest source of migrants over the last couple of decades. “Today, like never before, we need political will, effective action and dynamic change with a sense of urgency – it is indeed timeous to construct a multi-dimensional, multi-stakeholder and holistic approach to these global challenges,” Sir John told the Manila Forum. He said the world is being affected by great shocks, shocks that require an urgent response and action. Sir John added that these global issues – climate change, the food, commodity, financial and energy crises – are impacting on each and everyone, from the North to the South, the East to the West, and in particular also on the movement and mobility of people. “Let us bring results and delivery through change, and create opportunities for people in an enabling environment in the 21st century,” he said. Sir John stated that during the 2nd Meeting of ACP Ministers in charge of Asylum, Migration and Mobility, held in Brussels, in May 2008, they adopted a substantive ”Resolution on Migration and Development”, which underscores the invaluable contribution of migration and mobility to the alleviation of poverty, promotion of sustainable development, and the attainment of the MDGs. He re-iterated that the challenges of migration and development should be looked at in a new, positive and innovative manner. “Migration is innovation, and mutually reinforcing. We need to empower migrants, protect their rights and maximise their potential,” Sir John said. He pointed out that the ACP Group is responding with concrete action – the ACP Secretariat, with the support of the European Commission, is implementing an Intra-ACP Migration Facility, with the specific objective to integrate and mainstream migration issues into development policies by highlighting the positive effects and complementary contribution of migration. For further details contact: Robert Iroga iroga@acp.int
|
Institutions
