Global forum urges adoption of migrant rights pledge
>> DHAKA: Thailand has fully supported the Global Compact for Safe, Regular and Orderly Migration, a rights protection pledge agreed upon in New York last September.
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told hundreds of participants at the ninth Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) yesterday that the international community needed to move the pledge forward.
“We’re working with states and civil society to push for a comprehensive Global Compact of Migrants and Refugees for adoption in 2018 at the UN,” Ms Hasina said.
Governments participating at the GFMD deliberated over how to protect migrant rights through the private sector, civil society and state cooperation, and whether it should be unified under one mandate of migration and refugees, or separated into two discussions.
The conference saw heads of UN agencies — including the International Labour Organisation and International Organisation of Migration — cabinet members from the US and India, ambassadors, senior officials, International Organisation for Employers representatives and NGO directors participating in a three-day meeting on migration.
Vitavas Srivihok, deputy permanent secretary for foreign affairs, said translating the New York Declaration should take into account responsibility sharing and address the root cause of migration crises.
“Global Compact should be developed through a state-led clear, transparent and inclusive process engaging all relevant stakeholders, including countries of origin, transit and destinations,” Mr Vitavas said.
Different parties, including the UN, civil society, migrants, the private sector, trade unions and recruiters, should work out a system that allows people to migrate safely and legally, he said.
“We should invest in data and monitoring of international migration to facilitate the design of evidence-based policy and decision-making to promote the protection of migrants,” Mr Vitavas said.
Ministry of Labour inspector Anachak Sutayon said Thailand has implemented the spirit of Global Compact at the operational level, especially on health aspects.
“Migration is not a new issue for Thailand. We have been dealing with the problem for decades. Rights and facilities would certainly be more easily provided with legal migration,” Mr Anachak said.
He noted that collaboration with other state agencies, the business sector and civic groups at provincial levels have continued, especially to prevent human trafficking.
“With the Global Compact discussions to be finalised in the coming year, all sides, including Thailand, have to work harder to keep up the spirit of protecting the rights and welfare of migrants,” Mr Anachak said.