Migrants’ devt contributions, rights inclusion in UN agenda pushed

The Philippines has strongly advocated for the recognition of the positive contribution of migrants and the protection of the rights of migrant workers, regardless of migration status, in the ambitious “People-Centered” Development Agenda that will define international, regional and national development agenda priorities for the next 15 years.

Member States of the United Nations (UN) adopted on Aug. 2 the “peoplecentered” Agenda.

The Agenda, as contained in the outcome document entitled, “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, announced 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets that cover the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development. It identifies the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, as the greatest global challenge and as an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.

The Agenda will be launched at the UN Summit for the Post-2015 Development Agenda to be held from Sept. 25 to 27 at the UN Headquarters in New York. The Summit will also launch a Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) to support the SDGs through science, technology and innovation.

The Philippine delegation, led by Permanent Representative Lourdes Yparraguirre, strongly advocated for the recognition of the positive contribution of migrants to inclusive growth and sustainable development in source, transit and destination countries.

Manila also pushed for the inclusion of the special challenges facing middleincome countries, gender equality and empowerment of women, and for the adoption of an ambitious and universal climate agreement during the COP21 conference in Paris this coming December.

“We wish to recall that the Rio+ 20 outcome document on “The Future We Want” calls upon States to promote and protect effectively the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants regardless of their migration status, especially those of women and children,” Yparraguirre said during negotiations.