The debate over international migration has acquired a sense of urgency in recent years. Growing mobility of labour in a globalizing economy, emerging population and demographic dynamics, as well as enhanced security concerns, all contribute to the view that the collective capacity to “govern” migration phenomena is not keeping pace with these fast evolving developments.

A wide range of considerations drives this sense of urgency. For some States, migration has contributed and continues to contribute to important goals such as economic development, or social dynamism, cultural richness and diversity; their wish is to ensure that these gains are maintained. For others, the sense of urgency comes from questions about how to adjust to new migratory situations and develop effective policy responses to emerging challenges. For all there is the need to find the point of equilibrium between facilitation and control.

*Taken from the "Valuing Migration: The Costs, Benefits, Opportunities and Challenges of Migration"

Agenda

30 November 2004

11:00 - 13:00 Opening Presentation and Special Panel: the Global Commission on International Migration
  • Mr. Gervais Appave, Director, Migration Policy and Research, International Organization for Migration (IOM)
  • Dr. Mamphela Ramphele (Co-Chair), Global Commission on International Migration (GCIM)
  • Mr. N.K. Singh, Global Commission on International Migration (GCIM)
  • Mr. Sergio Marchi, Global Commission on International Migration (GCIM)
  • Dr. R.K. Jenny, Executive Director, Global Commission on International Migration (GCIM)

15:00 - 18:00 Valuing Migration: High-level panel presentations
  • Ms. Carolina Barco, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Colombia
Statement: EN | ES
  • Mr. Des Browne, Minister of State for Citizenship, Immigration and Nationality, UK
  • Mr. Viktor Ivanov, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation
Statement: EN | RU
  • Mr. Riaz H. Khokhar, Foreign Secretary, Pakistan
  • Mr. Qiao Zonghuai, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, China
  • Mr. N.K. Singh, Member of the Global Commission on International Migration, Chairman of the Management Development Institute, India (commentator)

1 December 2004

10:00 - 13:00 The Year in Review - Focus on selected policy developments and events in 2004

Regional Initiatives

  • Mr. Ian M. de Jong, Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the United Nations in Geneva
  • Ambassador Sophie A. Kalinde, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations in Geneva
    • Vision and Strategic Framework of the African Union

Global Initiatives

  • Ambassador Dominik Langenbacher, Swiss Delegate for Migration Dialogue
    • The Berne Initiative process toward the development of an International Agenda for Migration Management
  • Mr. Manolo Abella, Chief, International Migration Programme, International Labour Office
    • The International Labour Conference "Toward a Fair Deal for Migrant Workers"

International Dialogue on Migration

  • Ms. Diane Vincent, Associate Deputy Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Canada
    • The IOM/WHO/CDC Seminar on Health and Migration
  • Ambassador Alejandro Jara, Permanent Representative of Chile to the WTO, Chairman of the Council for Trade in Services
    • The IOM/World Bank/WTO Seminar on Trade and Migration

15:00 - 18:00 Workshops on "The Image of Migrants in Society"
  • Multimedia presentation by IOM 
    The Image of a Migrant
     
  • Prof. Dr. Rita Süssmuth, Member of the Global Commission on International Migration, Chair of the Independent Council of Experts on Immigration and Integration, appointed by the German Government
    • Keynote introduction and wrap-up of the Image of Migrants in Society

 

Related documents
  • Valuing Migration: The Costs, Benefits, Opportunities and Challenges of Migration EN | FR | ES
  • Year in Review EN | FR  | ES
  • The Image of Migrants in Society EN | FR | ES