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Migration & Development:

Migration & Development:. What can we learn from youth?. Michael Boampong , Founder and Advisor @ YPWC Presentation @ the 13 th Melaka International Youth Dialogue – Melaka, Malaysia Sept. 12-14,2013. The Story. Affiliation. Mission: - Educate and inform the youth on global issues;

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Migration & Development:

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  1. Migration & Development: What can we learn from youth? Michael Boampong, Founder and Advisor @ YPWC Presentation @ the 13th Melaka International Youth Dialogue – Melaka, Malaysia Sept. 12-14,2013

  2. The Story

  3. Affiliation Mission: - Educate and inform the youth on global issues; - Inspire youth to take action; - Encourage youth participation in global issues;  -Identify and build sustainable partnerships aimed at youth development; - Provide young people with tools and resources for effective action 

  4. Case study: Youth Consultation on Migration and Development • An annual activity organized prior to the Global Forum on Migration and Development • Since 2008, five consultations (i.e. online & offline) have been organized • Participation has increased from 105 to 359 young people • Representative and inclusive in terms of gender, age, and nationality • Key issues including labour migration, migrant rights, legal migration, policy and institutional coherence have been discussed

  5. 6 Key Messages 1. Migration is part of human life – the desire to have better opportunities and security elsewhere. • Young people are one of the highly mobile and vulnerable – especially females - social groups • Migration will not stop; it will be stimulated in the short & long term due to demographic imbalances and inequalities (e.g. youth bulge, unemployment, political crises and slow recovery of some countries from the economic crises) Photo credit: Clare Mackenzie

  6. Key Messages (cont’d) 2. Mainstreaming migration into development planning strategies is key to enhancing the positive impacts of migration while mitigating risk • The rights of young migrants, especially the most vulnerable – irregular migrants, domestic workers, trafficking victims, adolescents & youth left behind, foreign born immigrants, etc. – should be at the heart of policies and programmes • Sex and age disaggregated data is fundamental to policy planning • Meaningful youth participation in the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programmes will help address the unique needs of youth Photo credit: EyePress News 2013

  7. Key Messages (cont’d) • Ensuring the social, economic and cultural rights of young migrants, regardless of their migration status can enhance their human development outcomes • Human rights instruments relevant to “all human beings” and migrants need to be ratified and implemented by states (e.g. UDHR, ICRMW, domestic workers convention, etc.)

  8. Key Messages (cont’d) • Traditional and new media tools can play an active role in shaping public opinion about migration • The media can promote awareness about the dangers of irregular migration and as well, stimulate young peoples interest to migrate • Inaccurate information regarding immigration can also stimulate negative public perception about migration and increase xenophobia and discrimination • But there is also the “travel and see” among some young migrants: “I can’t know whether my brother is telling me the truth about life in London – I have never been there. I have to travel and see.” – Juliet, 29, Kumasi

  9. Key Messages (cont’d) 5. Empowering young people with reliable information is key to reducing their risks in the migration process (pre-migration, in transit, destination, and choosing to return) • Unreliable information regarding migration encourages irregular migration, makes integration and return migration challenging, and exposes migrants to abuses due to lack of awareness of their rights

  10. Key Messages (cont’d) 6. Migration is not a substitute to comprehensive national development agenda • Remittances, for instance, are often private funds that are used for consumption activities • Addressing the root causes of migration (e.g. lack of economic opportunities for youth, including employment) is important for long term development

  11. Key Obstacles to Change • Lack of quality and affordable education in countries of origin • Lack of employment • Poverty, crime, corruption, and conflict • Low awareness among youth migrants regarding their rights and opportunities at home (in case they want to return) • Lack of meaningful youth participation at various levels of decision making.

  12. What Needs to be Done • Provide youth with better opportunities at home and incentives to facilitate temporary or permanent return • Strengthen international development cooperation between origin and destination countries • Recognize youth migrants as actors of development and ensure their full participation in development processes • Ensure the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of young migrants in their origin and destination countries • Promote positive public perception about migrants and migration • Encourage youth-friendly public information campaigns on safe migration in countries or origin

  13. Related links • http://ypwc.org/home/impacts-made.html • http://groups.tigweb.org/migration • @mikenice22002 (twitter)

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