ONGOING PREPARATIONS FOR THE HIGH LEVEL DIALOGUE ON MIGRATION

As a follow up to the 2006 High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development, the October 3-4, 2013 meeting of high level government ministers, UN Agencies, and non-governmental organizations will set the framework for the next few years of global efforts to recommend migration policy to countries of origin, transit, and destination. Among the recommendations being made by civil society are:

1. Effectively reform and regulate the labor recruitment industry in order to avoid exploitation of workers.
2. Improve policies to assist and protect migrants who are in crisis – due to conflict, natural disasters, vulnerability of women and children, and other humanitarian situations.
3. Integrate migration into the Post-2015 Development Agenda, addressing migrant contributions to sending and receiving countries, as well as better planning to work with the needs of the migrants and countries in the area of development.
4. Promote the exchange of good practices and enact more realistic national policies responding to such issues as family reunification and social services.
5. Create mechanisms to guarantee labor rights for migrant workers that eliminate the “underclass” of exploitable members of the labor force.
6. Make needs and rights of women and children a cross cutting-issue in all migration policies.
7. Use already existing entities such as the Global Forum on Migration and Development, the Global Migration Group, the International Labor Organization, and the International Organization for Migration to harmonize and upgrade migration protection – in cooperation with civil society.

Preparations are being made by civil society for regional meetings, including global interactive meetings at UN Headquarters in New York on June 25 and July 15, 2013.

More information can be found on the following website: www.un.org/esa/population/migration/hlmimd2013/highlevelmim2013.htm

 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION 68: GIRL-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS

Every two years, the Third Committee of the General Assembly sponsors a resolution on girls rights. Traditionally the negotiating leader of this resolution is one of the countries in the South African Development Community, which includes Moçambique and Tanzania. This year, the General Assembly is asking for an “emphasis on child-headed households: causes, effects and prospects, …” with a view to assessing its impacts on the girl child. We are in the process of preparing information for UNICEF which may be writing the Secretary- General’s report. We have information from research; however we would prefer to hear from those of you who deal with this in the course of your ministry and in the life of the communities in which you live. We are aware that many children who are orphaned by HIV/AIDS become responsible for families and there are other instances as well. Please e-mail your contributions to mjtsndngo@yahoo.com.

FOLLOW UP TO THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN

Having succeeded in getting an outcome document, those who worked so hard to influence language protecting girls from violence are determined to create a method which will encourage implementation and monitoring of key policies suggested in the document. At the first two meetings, we spoke with  girls from Papua New Guinea, Moçambique, and South Africa to identify a process reaching youth at the grass roots level. Creating awareness about violence against girls which arises in local communities would lead to looking at causes and agreeing upon practical responses. Some issues which are being considered are: discrimination against girls in the matter of schooling, attacks on girls on the way to school or in school, rape, leadership training for girls, self esteem and participation in decision – making.

A MODEL OF EDUCATION FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN

(L to R) Cristina Igoa, Zarmina Kochi, Rosario Campos, Karen Cadeiro- Kaplan, Jean Shinoda Bolen

One of the constant concerns of migrant advocates is that of children who are largely invisible in destination country policy. Many NGOs try to provide services, including collaboration with state and local education systems. Educators are constantly making efforts to further understand how to assist immigrant children to adjust, learn and thrive in an school setting. Two successful immigrant students (Rosario, 12 years old, and Zarmina, a college graduate) testify to the methods used by author and teacher, Dr. Cristina Igoa. Cristina respects student cultures and their pace and so moves students from alienation and fear of their new environment to excitement and enthusiasm about learning and looking forward to a career. Says Rosario: “I can’t decide if I want to become a cancer researcher or a lawyer when I grow up.” Cristina’s book is entitled The Inner World of the Immigrant Child.

 

ONGOING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT GIRL ACTIVISTS – GIRLS TRIBUNALS

Learning from the model of Women’s Tribunals, the Working Group on Girls is looking forward to providing a platform for the voices of girls, particularly on the issue of violence. Reports from various countries recently indicate what those working with girls and women have been seeing directed toward rights activists: acid attacks for advocating access to school, patriarchal attitudes which do not allow girls to make decisions about their lives, including health and career decisions, and rape used as a way of settling family disputes or as a means of dominating women and girls in the community. The tribunals are organized locally, nationally, or in this case, internationally.

They allow girls to give witness before an audience and a group of judges. During the first tribunal sponsored at the 57^th Commission on the Status of Women, girl activists from Finland, El Salvador, Mexico, the United States, and Brazil described violence experienced in schools and communities: bullying, gang-related sexual violence, and commodification of girls in the media. They also spoke of their roles in organizing and gathering their peers, teachers, and communities to end both physical and psychological violence against girls. Judges from UNICEF, a student activist from the University of Nairobi, a member of the Jordanian royal family, and a documentary filmmaker affirmed the courage of these girls, broadened the discussion, and gave recommendations to all, including the audience.

MODEL UN WORKSHOPS: “UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL” AT THE UN

UN Department of Public Information is organizing two Model UN (MUN) Workshops in 2013 for MUN student organizers.  The first will take place in Vienna July 8-11 for MUN programmes in Europe, and the second will take place in New York August 26-29 for any MUN programme around the world.   outreach.un.org/mun/

“THE RISE OF THE SOUTH: HUMAN PROGRESS IN A DIVERSE WORLD”

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched its 2013 Human Development Report, “The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World”. According to UNDP, “The South is developing at a pace unprecedented in human history, with hundreds of millions of people being lifted out of poverty in developing nations and billions more poised to join a new global middle class.”

As expected the “BRICS” nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) are becoming major forces in the world’s global economy, but more surprisingly the nations of Bangladesh, Chile, Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, and Vietnam are among the human-development high achievers highlighted.

For free downloads of the 2013 Report in ten languages and other resource materials, please visit: http://hdr.undp.org (select your language)