Migration, Human Trafficking and Sustainable Development Goals’ achievement 2017 are some issues that are to the fore at the GSIJP Office and the UN over the past few weeks and will continue over the next few months.  

Scene in the conference room in Geneva at the thematic consultation June 2017

Cecile Kern has been in Geneva for the thematic consultations in preparation for the Migration Compact.  She is traveling to Berlin for the Global Forum on Migration and Development next week.  The theme is “Towards a Global Social Contract on Migration and Development. (Berlin 28th – 30 June 2017) There is some good reading in the concept paper gfmd_2017-2018_co-chairmanship_draft_concept_paper  I am selecting from page 5  ‘From Global Agreement to Implementation – National Action Plans for migration-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’

With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, migration has been, for the first time, included in the global development framework. Overall, seven SDGs can be considered as particularly migration-relevant.

•  Target 10.7 is specifically dedicated to migration and calls for the facilitation of “orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies”
• Target 10c calls for a reduction of remittances costs
• Target 3.c on health personnel calls for a better retention of work force in   developing countries, thus reducing brain drain
• Target 4.b calls for an expansion of the number of scholarships available for young people from developing countries
• Target 8.8 protects labour rights and promotes safe and secure working environments of all workers, including migrant workers, particularly women, and those in precarious employment
• Target 16.9 calls for legal identity, in particular birth registration, for all
• Finally, target 17.18 calls for better data disaggregated by migratory status

Additionally, targets 5.2, 8.7 and 16.2 address various aspects of human trafficking, in particular trafficking of women and children. The review will take place at global, regional and national levels as well as thematically with regard to ecological, social and economic drivers for migration. The High Level Political Forum (HLPF) will play a central role in overseeing the follow-up and review process at the global level through annual meetings under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and quadrennial under the auspices of the General Assembly. Thematic reviews will be delivered under ECOSOC. The measurement of indicators will be led by the UN Statistical Commission which also implies the identification of indicators, methodologies and responsible agencies.

The implementation of the migration-related SDGs allows for a renewed national understanding of migration as a positive factor of development and facilitates the process of developing coherent migration policies at national and regional level.

How do these goals and targets, government policy and plans, and Good Shepherd Strategic Plans at Unit and Regional Level inform and impact each other?  Sister Mary Magdalena Z. Saavedra from the Philippines is attending the session in Berlin.  Initially Magdalena and Theresa Symons were selected based to go to Bangladesh based on the replies they make to requests for information on what they were doing in migration work.

Presently there is a lot of awareness about the vulnerability of people who are migrating to being trafficked.  This concern was also expressed within the UN Multi Stakeholders hearing facilitated by the President of the General Assembly on June 23, 2017   This hearing was in preparation for the review and appraisal of the UN Global Plan to Combat Trafficking in Person – an appraisal taking place every 4 years within the the General Assembly.   This session will culminate in a political declaration at the High Level Meeting of the General Assembly on September 27 and 28th, 2017.  At the session I  presented on behalf of the NGO Committee to Stop Trafficking in Person see CSTIP Advocacy Doc for Global Plan of Action  5 points – Adopt, Adhere, Actualize, Allocate and Address!

Human trafficking is mentioned 3 times in the Sustainable Development Goals 5.2, 8.7 and 16.2.  While you have seen me write about Alliance 8.7 it is important that we keep our eye on the other two targets as well – ending violence against girls and women and developing peaceful societies.  The Sustainable Development Goals are indivisible.  A new group is being formed ‘Partnership 5.2′ to ensure that trafficking and prostitution are  recorded as gendered violent acts that must be rooted out and addressed legally, socially and culturally within a human rights framework.  Stay tuned for more information.

On June 21st there was a side event cosponsored by the Governments of Sweden and Panama together with UN Women and UNODC and the NGO’s CATW , Equality Now and Apne Aap Some of the tweets from the session will give you a flavor of the event.