International Organization for Migration
Permanent Observer to the United Nations
122 East 42nd Street • Chanin Building • 48th Floor • New York, NY 10168
Tel: (212) 681-7000 • Fax: (212) 867-5887 • E-mail: unobserver@iom.int • Internet: www.iom.int
Check against delivery
STATEMENT BY
MS MICHELE KLEIN SOLOMON
PERMANENT OBSERVER
AT THE 6TH SESSION OF THE OPEN WORKING GROUP ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
New York ● 13 DECEMBER 2013
Mr. Chair, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The development landscape has changed significantly over the past fifteen years; the “rise of the South” has eroded the dichotomy between developing and developed countries, and the world has become ever more inter-dependent, evidenced by the financial crises and the very real effects of climate change.
At the same time, countries are increasingly “in the same boat” when it comes to migration: more and more countries are simultaneously countries of origin, transit and destination for migrants. Demographic shifts and labour market transformation in both developing and developed countries will lead to an increased need to match people with jobs. The search for high-skilled talent will be particularly acute, but there will also be a strong need for service workers, for instance in the health and human care sectors.
Migration – domestic and international – has grown to levels that cannot be neglected by development policy makers. A large proportion of the globe’s population is directly affected by migration, whether they be the one billion domestic and international migrants themselves, their family members, or the people who receive indispensable services and other support from migrants. Therefore, just as global collaboration on managing the impact of the next financial crisis seems like a good idea, so will creating global partnerships on improving the development outcomes of migration.
Under a new global partnership, a target on migration should spell out the shared benefits to be gained by states and other stakeholders working together to create a cooperative, rules-based international migration system grounded in human rights that is less costly and more productive for all stakeholders.
The focus of a new global partnership should be on enhancing the quality of migration. How migration is governed—the conditions under which migrants move, live and work—will determine what kind of
Permanent Observer to the United Nations
122 East 42nd Street • Chanin Building • 48th Floor • New York, NY 10168
Tel: (212) 681-7000 • Fax: (212) 867-5887 • E-mail: unobserver@iom.int • Internet: www.iom.int
outcomes can be achieved. For example, many of the potential benefits of migration are being squandered because of migrant exploitation, de-skilling, and through exorbitant “fees” collected along the migratory process. I know of people who have had to hand over one year’s earnings to recruitment agents just to be able to get a job abroad.
Concretely, migration partnerships could aim to:
lower the costs and barriers of mobility while upholding the dignity and human rights of migrants;
lower the cost of remittances; and
increase investment possibilities for diaspora.
When comparing the potential dividends of migration partnerships to other proposed elements of a Global Partnership Goal – such as development friendly trade and controlling tax evasion – the result is that migration partnerships could generate similar yields, in the range of USD 200 billion dollars per year.
Furthermore, there are already strong and established forums on migration and development that could be built upon to create such partnerships, such as the Global Forum on Migration and Development as well as Regional Consultative Processes on migration.
Migration should therefore become part of a new global partnership on development, similar to the current MDG8. Such a partnership should aim to facilitate international migration that is safe and enriching for migrants, operates under the rule of law and is consistent with international standards, is less costly in human, social and financial terms, and is more beneficial for all stakeholders concerned.
Moreover, to have an agenda that truly leaves no one behind, we will need to have disaggregated data and targets or indicators under key development objectives regarding, for example, health, education and decent work, to ensure that migrants have equitable access to these key development indicia.
Thank you.
122 East 42nd Street • Chanin Building • 48th Floor • New York, NY 10168
Tel: (212) 681-7000 • Fax: (212) 867-5887 • E-mail: unobserver@iom.int • Internet: www.iom.int
Check against delivery
STATEMENT BY
MS MICHELE KLEIN SOLOMON
PERMANENT OBSERVER
AT THE 6TH SESSION OF THE OPEN WORKING GROUP ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
New York ● 13 DECEMBER 2013
Mr. Chair, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The development landscape has changed significantly over the past fifteen years; the “rise of the South” has eroded the dichotomy between developing and developed countries, and the world has become ever more inter-dependent, evidenced by the financial crises and the very real effects of climate change.
At the same time, countries are increasingly “in the same boat” when it comes to migration: more and more countries are simultaneously countries of origin, transit and destination for migrants. Demographic shifts and labour market transformation in both developing and developed countries will lead to an increased need to match people with jobs. The search for high-skilled talent will be particularly acute, but there will also be a strong need for service workers, for instance in the health and human care sectors.
Migration – domestic and international – has grown to levels that cannot be neglected by development policy makers. A large proportion of the globe’s population is directly affected by migration, whether they be the one billion domestic and international migrants themselves, their family members, or the people who receive indispensable services and other support from migrants. Therefore, just as global collaboration on managing the impact of the next financial crisis seems like a good idea, so will creating global partnerships on improving the development outcomes of migration.
Under a new global partnership, a target on migration should spell out the shared benefits to be gained by states and other stakeholders working together to create a cooperative, rules-based international migration system grounded in human rights that is less costly and more productive for all stakeholders.
The focus of a new global partnership should be on enhancing the quality of migration. How migration is governed—the conditions under which migrants move, live and work—will determine what kind of
Permanent Observer to the United Nations
122 East 42nd Street • Chanin Building • 48th Floor • New York, NY 10168
Tel: (212) 681-7000 • Fax: (212) 867-5887 • E-mail: unobserver@iom.int • Internet: www.iom.int
outcomes can be achieved. For example, many of the potential benefits of migration are being squandered because of migrant exploitation, de-skilling, and through exorbitant “fees” collected along the migratory process. I know of people who have had to hand over one year’s earnings to recruitment agents just to be able to get a job abroad.
Concretely, migration partnerships could aim to:
lower the costs and barriers of mobility while upholding the dignity and human rights of migrants;
lower the cost of remittances; and
increase investment possibilities for diaspora.
When comparing the potential dividends of migration partnerships to other proposed elements of a Global Partnership Goal – such as development friendly trade and controlling tax evasion – the result is that migration partnerships could generate similar yields, in the range of USD 200 billion dollars per year.
Furthermore, there are already strong and established forums on migration and development that could be built upon to create such partnerships, such as the Global Forum on Migration and Development as well as Regional Consultative Processes on migration.
Migration should therefore become part of a new global partnership on development, similar to the current MDG8. Such a partnership should aim to facilitate international migration that is safe and enriching for migrants, operates under the rule of law and is consistent with international standards, is less costly in human, social and financial terms, and is more beneficial for all stakeholders concerned.
Moreover, to have an agenda that truly leaves no one behind, we will need to have disaggregated data and targets or indicators under key development objectives regarding, for example, health, education and decent work, to ensure that migrants have equitable access to these key development indicia.
Thank you.
Stakeholders