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"Beth Foley" [ Profil ] |
| Sujet: |
Thank you and summary: Week 2
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| Envoyé: |
Sep 7th, 2006 - 18:25:25 |
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Hi everyone,
Here is a summary of this week's responses - thanks again to everyone who has contributed their insightful ideas over the last two weeks. The best quotes and ideas will be used in a report to be distributed to delegates at the UN's High Level Dialogue. The consultation is now closed but this group will remain open, therefore we have the opportunity to keep the discussion going. One of our participants, Stuart Leiderman, wanted to ask people in more detail about their personal experiences of migration. His questions are now posted in the messages section of the site. Feel free to respond, add your own questions or post any interesting information relating to youth migration.
Summary: Week 2
Who do you feel is best placed to take the initiative on migration policy: the United Nations or national governments? Is there a need for a common migration policy?
Answers varied widely amongst respondents to this question. Some of the suggestions were as follows:
- National governments should take the initiative as they are directly concerned with migration.
- National governments are in a better position to make appropriate evaluations of particular national situations and therefore to formulate an effective policy.
- It is up to governments to implement global initiatives into local laws and a bigger role should also be played by civil society organizations.
- When a migrant experiences problems abroad, their first point of contact is generally the embassy of their own government.
- It may be possible to create good bilateral policies among pairs of countries, i.e. a sender and a receiver, who can agree on some mutual interests they wish to protect.
- The UN must take the initiative to coordinate projects
- The UN is best placed to guarantee the rights of individuals
- UN can harmonize the different policies of migration in the interests of both national governments and migrants.
- The UN is a bit far removed from the people the problem is not the same in every country; there is too much national variation.
- The UN is too big to take account of the wide variations between different national situations.
- While the UN may keep the discussion going in some fashion after the HLD sessions, this will not necessarily translate into good policy. Instead, it may translate into a wasteful diversion of time and attention.
- Migrants themselves are the best ones to take the initiative on migration policy. I believe they should adopt a policy of care research and self-monitoring of voluntary migrants.
There was a general consensus, however, that some form of a common migratory policy was needed, mainly to ensure that the human rights of all migrants were respected. This could include greater monitoring of migrants and better access to information about their movements. There were some suggestions for global schemes to allow young migrants to enter other countries on a temporary basis, later bringing money and skills back to their home countries. Others also suggested that the differences between political cultures must also be recognized at the local level in any attempt to form a common policy. Restrictive Visa arrangements do not encourage young people to travel on legal grounds, which can lead to them falling prey to illegal routes involving human trafficking or substandard working conditions.
What kinds of policies should be developed to enhance the economic and social benefits of migration for national governments?
- Governments should create a national ministry designed to establish and strengthen contact with the Diaspora.
- Sending and receiving countries should initiate bilateral programs that will assist youth migrants in preparation for their journeys, and in integration into a new culture.
- Migrants themselves should have the opportunity to make a direct investment in their home countries. For example, there should be an exemption from customs duties or special rates from transfer companies for those who want to invest.
- There needs to be better integration between government and civil society
- If governments should manage migratory flows in a manner that is respectful of human rights of migrants, a climate of non confrontation and a feeling of security will grow in society.
- Governments should not view migration, especially mass migration, as an acceptable way to finance internal development or as a way to get rid of poor or "undesirable" citizens.
- Policies of host countries should be restrict the number of incoming migrants per year to a reasonable number.
There was some dispute over if and how far governments should benefit financially from the income generated by migrant workers abroad. Some respondents argued that national economic and social development should not be done "on the backs" of migrants and their earnings, claiming that governments who make it impossible for citizens to make a living within their countries of origin should not be permitted to tax migrants earnings when they are outside the country, nor the remittances they send back. Others felt that policymakers should actively encourage the flow of remittances as a means of policy alleviation, or allow embassies to register all migrants abroad in order to take a development levy on the migrant workers wages. The government could then invest this money in schemes for local and national development, such as job creation programmes.
What socio-economic safety nets should be provided by national governments in the future to better secure the human rights of young migrants, their families and local communities? How can we ensure that the positive effects of youth migration outweigh the negative impact?
- National governments must recognize that migrants are very important for development. They should safeguard ethnic minorities from racism and discrimination.
- Sending governments must negotiate with the host country to ensure that migrants rights are respected,
- Migrants should be treated without discrimination, and benefit from the same rights as citizens for example, the right to vote.
- National media should look at the benefits of migration, as well as the disadvantages.
- A safety net to secure the human rights of young migrants requires that a) the migrant know his/her rights, b) there is an independent legal advocacy of some kind, with the authority and power to correct abusive treatment, and c) there is worldwide scrutiny of the plight of young migrants everywhere
- Sending countries, as a policy, should work to provide better working conditions for young people to avoid the risks associated with involuntary or illegal migration.
- Foreign embassies should keep track of migrants and help them to integrate into society.
- Migrants should be assisted in traveling if they want to. They also need to be educated on the dangers of emigrating.
Do you think that young people in your community have enough opportunities to participate in the debates surrounding migration? If not, what could be done to increase their involvement at both the local and the national level?
The majority of our respondents felt that young people often had few opportunities to participate in debates on migration. Many felt that young people were often ignorant about the issues as decisions were taken by the authorities, with few chances for young people to have their say. The reasons for this lack of participation also depend on national situations. For example, countries like Serbia are more concerned with issues of refugees. In America, young people who are permanent citizens are not regularly involved in those discussions or decisions. However, young people who are children of migrants or former immigrants might participate in discussion among their friends and families.
In terms of suggestions to increase young peoples awareness and involvement, the following are a selection:
- Societies need to change the way they view young people; we should involve young people in the decision-making process through the creation of a youth parliament or youth divisions in national institutions.
- Young people should mobilize around the issue of migration, as they are generally most affected by migration policy.
- NGOs should lead the discussion on local and national level and in the media
- Adequate funding and resources need to be made available to youth organizations.
- In schools, teachers should invite migrants to discuss the benefits and challenges of migration with students. Later, teachers can organize a debate on the subject.
- We should take into account young peoples ideas and by supporting youth activities and campaigns on the issues surrounding migration.
Thanks again - and you can follow the progress of the UN's Migration Dialogue at: http://www.unmigration.org
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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