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Top UN officials on Thursday called on the international community to protect the rights of migrants and recognize their contributions to society.
In his remarks to a High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development held here by the General Assembly, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said migration is an expression of the human aspiration for dignity, safety and a better future, proclaiming "it is part of the social fabric, part of our very make-up as a human family."
"It is our collective responsibility to make migration work for the benefit of migrants and countries alike," he said. "We owe this to the millions of migrants who, through their courage, vitality and dreams, help make our societies more prosperous, resilient and diverse."
The UN chief put forward an ambitious eight-point agenda to " make migration work" for all. Among the suggestions were the needs to protect the human rights of migrants who are frequently the subject of abuse and exploitation, lower the cost of migration, and change public perception of migrants, as many face discrimination on a daily basis.
According to the UN figures, there are some 232 million international migrants. The World Bank released its latest global remittance figures Wednesday, which showed that migrants from developing countries alone are expected to send home 414 billion U. S. dollars this year, a 6.3 percent increase from the previous year. The amount of the remittance is projected to rise to 540 billion U.S. dollars by 2016.
Ban also stressed the need to find ways integrating migration in the development agenda, improve data collection on migrants and the impact they have on development, and enhancing migration partnerships so governments, the private sector and civil society can share ideas and knowledge on mobility.
Given the complex realities countries face -- including the recent global economic crisis -- "we need to work together, with courage and vision, recognizing that our actions will have an impact on millions of women, men and children," said Ban.
The two-day Dialogue seeks to work out concrete measures for improving cooperation and enhancing the benefits of international migration among countries, while reducing its negative implications. The event featured presentations by member states and a slate of panel discussions on specific issues such as the links between migration and sustainable development, and labor mobility and its impact on development.
General Assembly President John Ashe called on the member states to set practical targets andcommit themselves to implementation and monitoring progress.
