Global Forum on Migration and Development will take place in Dhaka, Bangladesh on December 10th – 12th and is preceded by 2 civil society days, Thursday and Friday December 8th and 9th. Good Shepherd will be represented by Sr Maria Magdalena Z. Saavedra from the Philippinies and Ms Theresa Symons, Regional Manager, Mission Development Office Asia Pacific. (Malaysia)
Both women are accomplished and experts in the fields of Migration and Human Trafficking and bring this expertize and insight to the Global Forum on Migration and Development on behalf of ‘Good Shepherd.’ Magdalena is with Religious of the Good Shepherd – Center for Overseas Workers (RGS-COW) in Davao, Philippines. Read about RGS-COW Theresa in her own words ‘bringing broad and deep experience to a new regional role‘ within the Mission Development Office.
The concept_paper_gfmd_2016_civil_society_programme_final en-1 provides good information as to what will be happening in Dhaka. The background to the GFMD can be found at the bottom of page 1 and top of page 2 from the UN perspective. The overall theme is “Migration that works for Sustainable Development for All: Towards a Transformative Migration Agenda”
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein made this statement on September 19, 2016 and I quote the following ‘A human rights-based migration governance framework should include attention to addressing the drivers of precarious migration, such as climate change and extreme poverty. It should ensure due attention to saving lives in transit and ensuring human rights at borders. It should enhance safe and regular pathways to entry. Measures should be taken which provide specific protection of the rights of migrants, and would include measures to decriminalize irregular migration and to regularize the status of irregular migrants. And it should seek to collect disaggregated data on the human rights situation of migrants, including specific data on migrants killed, injured, or victims of crime while attempting to cross maritime, land or air borders.” These outline some of the critical issues. How does this compare with our gs_position_on_migration? The 30th Congregational Chapter and the Direction Statement expressed deep concern about refugees and migrants. One recommendation was ‘that the CLT establish working groups to develop corporate responses to issues of global importance.’ Migration today is one of these issues. We have two representatives attending. The theme of the civil society days is “Time for Action: Doing rights-based governance of migration and development in our communities and across borders”
On November 25th U.N. Says 2016 Will Be Deadliest Year Ever For Migrants Crossing The Mediterranean What is your response? What questions do you want our representative to ask? What change do you wish to see?
For further information see my blog posts of September 13, 16, and 19, 2016
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Women in Migration Network have a very informative website which may be of help to you as you follow the Intergovernmental Conference on Migration in Marrakesh to adopt the Global Compact on Safe, Regular and Orderly Migration. There is one action that you can take – Endorses the Marrakesh women’s Rights Manifesto. It is in a number of languages. Click on this link for full details Click on this link for full details There are two ways to endorse the Manifesto – either individually or as an organization.
Good Shepherd over the years have attended the Global Forum on Migration and Development which is also taking place in Marrakesh, Morocco, December 5 – 7. Cecilie Kern is attending this on behalf of us all. Donatus Lili from Kenya NGO Regional Designate will join her for the intergovernmental Conference on the 11th and 12th December.
