Effective Respect for the Human Rights of Migrants: A Shared Responsibility (2009)
International Conference Center Geneva (CICG)
17 rue de Varembé, Geneva, Switzerland
Background
The workshop on "Effective Respect for the Human Rights of Migrants: A Shared Responsibility" was held in the framework of IOM’s International Dialogue on Migration (IDM) which in 2009 had an overall theme of "Human Rights and Migration: Working Together for Safe, Dignified and Secure Migration".
Consistent with IOM's mandate and Strategy Document (activity 7), the IDM provides a forum for IOM Member and Observer States, as well as international and non-governmental organizations and other partners, to share experiences and perspectives on migration matters with a view to identifying practical solutions and fostering greater cooperation.
Overview
The importance of the "human dimension" of migration and the need to ensure the effective protection of the human rights of migrants have attracted the attention of policy-makers and other stakeholders involved in migration issues. Increasingly, governments and civil society organizations are considering how best to incorporate human rights, welfare, safety, dignity and security of individuals and communities into migration policies, legislation and programming. In doing so, it is also important to explore the broad context of migrants’ interactions with their families, neighbourhoods, employers and wider communities in countries of origin, transit and destination, since each of these relationships implies rights and responsibilities on the part of all those involved.
The workshop drew on IOM's research and programmes, of which human rights dimensions are an integral part, and built on the issues raised by IOM’s membership on this subject at the 2008 IOM Council session as well as on the discussions held at the Manila Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD). This workshop explored the nexus between migration and human rights, and the current state of thinking on these intersecting issues both from a policy and a programmatic perspective.
Specifically, it aimed to:
- Bring together governments and other relevant stakeholders to share experiences pertaining to migration management and human rights.
- Provide IOM membership with the opportunity to discuss human rights and migration in depth and to identify effective means for and successful approaches to ensuring the protection of human rights in the migration context.
- Bring forward and highlight the need for and benefits of multi-stakeholder cooperation for the effective protection of the human rights of migrants.
Agenda
25 March 2009 - Day I | |
09:00 - 10:00 | Registration |
10:00 - 10:10 |
Welcome Remarks
|
10:10 - 10:30 |
Keynote Address
|
10:30 - 11:00 |
Setting the Scene
|
11:00 - 13:00 | Session I: Human Rights and Migrants: Frameworks and Implementation |
Moderator: Ositadinma Anaedu, Minister, Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva Speakers:
General Discussion |
|
13:00 - 14:00 | Afternoon Break |
14:00 - 15:00 | Side Event: Migrants and their Right to Health |
15:00 - 18:00 |
Session II: Fighting Discrimination and Promoting Integration: Human Rights Challenges for Migrants and Societies Moderator: Mariette Grange, Expert on human rights of migrants and board member of December 18 (Bio) Speakers:
General Discussion |
26 March 2009 – Day II | |
10:00 - 10:30 |
Migrant's Voice
General Discussion |
10:30 - 13:00 | Session III: Labour Mobility: Rights and Responsibilities |
Moderator: Ibrahim Awad, Director, International Migration Programme, International Labour Office Speakers:
General Discussion |
|
13:00 - 15:00 | Afternoon Break |
15:00 - 17:50 |
Session IV: Realising the Human Rights of Migrants: Partnerships for Success Moderator: Jillyanne Redpath-Cross , Senior Legal Advisor, International Migration Law Department, International Organization for Migration Speakers:
General Discussion |
17:50 - 18:00 |
Wrap-up and Closing Remarks End of the Workshop |