Tuesday 28 October 2003

Press Briefing Notes
Tuesday 28 October 2003
Spokesperson: Niurka Piñeiro

SWITZERLAND - Migrants' Access to Human Rights
MOROCCO - Outcome of Ministerial Meeting on Migration in the Western Mediterranean
ALBANIA - Reception Centre for Victims of Trafficking and Irregular Migrants
SWITZERLAND - Young People Discuss Migration

SWITZERLAND - Migrants' Access to Human Rights - A new IOM publication "Elusive Protection, Uncertain Lands: Migrants'
Access to Human Rights, by Bimal Ghosh focuses on the vulnerability of migrants to human rights abuses, and the need to strengthen the recognition and protection of their human rights in international and national law as well as in practice.

The report states that, in addition to an abiding ethical duty, nation states have their own citizen-centric interest in defending migrants' rights through both individual and collective action. The protection of migrants' human rights is presented as an essential interlocking element to sustain a global system of orderly migration.

Building on the nexus between human rights protection and migration management, and going beyond state practices, the study makes a strong case for coalition building between human rights groups and migrant-serving associations. It also explains how developments after September 11 have heightened the importance of such coalitions.

The seemingly relentless pressures for emigration juxtaposed against an increasingly restrictive climate for entry in the destination countries have sharply enhanced the potential risks of human rights abuses. While in the past few decades the world has made significant strides towards the protection of human rights in general and although many of the issues involved have now come to the fore, the vulnerability of migrants to human rights abuse has failed to receive adequate attention.

The study makes a synoptic analysis of the inadequate recognition of migrants' human rights in international and national law and discusses some of the main practical obstacles that make it even more difficult for them to enjoy their human rights. The publication is available n the IOM Website www.iom.int

MOROCCO - Outcome of Second Ministerial Meeting on Migration in the Western Mediterranean - A two-day conference that brought together Ministers and representatives of member Governments of the Western Mediterranean Dialogue, the "5+5"(Algeria, France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia) ended Thursday in Rabat.

The event, organized by the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco in close cooperation with IOM and with the support of the Government of Italy and others, allowed participants to discuss regional cooperative approaches in the field of migration management and to follow up on the "Tunis Declaration", approved last October by participating ministers.

The "Tunis Declaration" stressed the importance for countries of the Western Mediterranean to exchange regular information on migration issues, to fight migrant smuggling and trafficking through concerted multilateral efforts, to develop regular migration for work programmes and to work with migrant communities in destination countries.

Two documents, the "Presidency Conclusions" and "Implementation proposals for the Tunis Declaration" were approved by participating countries.

The "Presidency Conclusions" call for a progressive application of the "Tunis Declaration" recommendations, namely in the fields of fighting irregular migration; improving integration of regular migrants in Europe; and socio-economic development of areas with high migration rates.

A global and coordinated approach, which mobilizes national resources while benefiting of relevant international expertise (IOM and ILO) is recommended.

The "Implementation Proposals for the Tunis Declaration" aim at the consolidation of the migration management approach proposed last year, by structuring it around three main themes: the integrated management of movements and human exchanges/fight against trafficking in migrants; the rights and obligations of migrants; and the co-development.

The Western Mediterranean 5+5 dialogue was launched in December 1990 in Rome. Foreign Ministers of the 5+5 countries, who met in Lisbon in January 2001, underlined the need for countries in the region to cooperate in an organized and coordinated way in dealing with migration issues.

IOM lends its expertise and acts as an honest broker to support regional consultative processes on migration related issues in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe.

ALBANIA - Reception Centre for Victims of Trafficking and Irregular Migrants - The IOM office in Tirana renewed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministries of Public Order, Labour and Social Affairs aimed at further strengthening the collaboration on behalf of victims of trafficking and irregular migrants.

A reception centre, inaugurated last July, provides shelter and assistance to victims of trafficking and irregular migrants stranded in Albania.

The new agreement describes the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved. The staff for the centre is provided by the Ministry of Labour and Social, and is responsible for its day to day management. The Ministry of Public Order is responsible for security, 24 hours, 7 days per week. IOM provides financial support, training for the staff, and provides technical support.

The reception centre is supported by contributions from the European Commission (HLWG), SIDA and USAID.
For more information, contact IOM Tirana, Maurizio Busatti, Tel: 355.42.578.36

SWITZERLAND - Young People Discuss Migration - Four regional youth conferences held this month in Switzerland provided a forum for young persons to learn in an interactive way the functioning of a democracy and to discuss relevant political topics.

The participants, aged between 14 and 21, also discussed the challenges and problems in connection with migration.

IOM Bern together with CARITAS participated in one of the conferences as experts to inform and discuss the role of NGOs and International Organizations, such as IOM, in the field of migration and to answer questions concerning migration in general; with a special focus on the voluntary return of rejected asylum seekers and the integration of migrants.

The participants also had the possibility to discuss their opinions with Swiss parliamentarians. At the end of each regional conference, the participants formulated petitions. The working group on migration said more employment possibilities should be given to asylum seekers in order to prevent criminality.

Of the 400 participants in the regional youth conferences, 200 were selected to participate at a national youth conference in the parliament building in Bern. On that day, Swiss parliamentarians will give their seats to the participants. The national conference will be held on 30 October. For further information, log on to: www.jugendsession.ch or IOM Bern Website on www.iom.int/Switzerland