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"Beth Foley" [ Profil ] |
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Summary: Week 1
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Aug 29th, 2006 - 11:04:08 |
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Hi everyone -
Here is a summary of last weeks responses - thank you for all your interesting contributions.
Section 1: Effects of international migration on economic and social development
What are the main economic and social benefits and drawbacks of migration for young migrants and for their home and host countries? Do you think that the benefits of youth migration outweigh the drawbacks?
Main benefits:
- Education and the acquisition of skills in other countries, especially if young people then bring these skills back to their countries of origin.
- When migrants return to their home countries, they often use money they have earned to fund new enterprises.
- Opportunities for migrants, their families and local communities to improve their economic prospects and standards of living.
- Many migrants families gain social status in their home communities
- Young migrants bring energy and dynamism to host countries.
- Establishes social and political links between countries.
Main drawbacks:
- Migration is often the only option available to many young people due to a lack of education and employment opportunities at home.
- Young people who migrate face the difficulties associated with assimilating into a foreign culture, learning a new language, and dealing with issues such as racism and prejudice.
- Poorer countries end up losing much of the potential of the next generation through youth migration; this could lead to a decline in future production.
- Young migrants, even highly qualified ones, often struggle to find gainful employment in host countries and frequently end up living in poverty.
- Mass migration could lower wages or increase unemployment for developed countries in the future
Most people who responded viewed migration in a fairly positive light. There was a general consensus that the benefits outweighed the drawbacks, but some respondents also stressed that costs and benefits were distributed unevenly and that migration is accompanied by serious risks. Others felt that the benefits of migration were generally short-term ones, while drawbacks only become obvious in the long-term. Several people also mentioned the difficulty of the process of obtaining a visa for overseas travel, particularly if they were coming from an African country.
Who benefits the most from youth migration national governments, local communities or the young migrants themselves and their families?
Most people felt that the young migrants themselves were the main beneficiaries of the migration process, often because of a lack of opportunities in their home countries. It was also mentioned that the positive effects of migration could be maximized if home and host countries were prepared to work closely together.
Section 2: Ensuring the human rights of migrants
What policies does your government operate to guarantee the rights of young migrants? Are there special measures in place to protect the more vulnerable (for example, young women)?
How can young people within civil society work to decrease the risks of youth trafficking and abuse of young migrants? Can the use of information and communication technologies help in this respect?
- Many countries take a laissez-faire attitude to migration and there is little monitoring of migrants leaving or entering the country.
- Training and information for young migrants could be provided by their home countries before they leave.
- Women are subject to protective measures in certain countries like Nepal
- People need to be better informed about the risks migrants can face the media could be a powerful tool in this respect
- Lectures in schools can get young people involved
- Some weaknesses in civil society organizations
- Young people should focus their campaigning on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals once these are reached many of the gross inequalities which compel young people to migrate will be eradicated.
- Information technology could be used to provide potential migrants with better information about the countries they are thinking of migrating too, as well as the risks they might face there.
Section 3: Remittances
Do you think remittances provide an effective source of growth for developing countries? Why (not)? Should governments ease the process of sending remittances to home countries and reduce remittance fees?
How can remittances from young migrants be put into more productive use in their home countries (for example, programs for local development)?
Many people saw remittances as a positive aspect of the migration process, and argued that governments should reduce remittance fees. Unlike some forms of foreign aid, they reach people directly and can be used to invest in local enterprises. This in turn might mean that other young people are not forced to migrate. It was also mentioned that remittances will play an important role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. However, others felt that remittances were only a short-term solution to the issue of domestic poverty and that developing countries should be focusing on improving opportunities and infrastructure at home as part of a more sustainable effort to tackle poverty. Suggestions to enhance the benefits of remittances included channeling remittance money into youth-led projects in the local community.
I hope that gives you a general idea of last week's responses. I look forward to reading this week's discussion!
Beth
Beth Foley
Global Youth Action Network
211 East 43rd Street, Ste 905
New York, NY 10017, USA
tel: +1.212.661.6111
fax: +1.212.661.1933
web: www.youthlink.org
newsletter: getnews (at) youthlink.org
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