Distinguished Delegates

Dear Friends,

I am delighted to find myself once again in South America and to
express my great admiration for your continent, which I have been
privileged to visit several times until now.

I wish first to thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Leila
Rachid, and her staff at the Pro-Tempore Presidency of the SMC for
their dedication in ensuring the success of this Conference. I
would like to mention as well my appreciation for your
country’s dynamic policy in support of the coherence,
integration and work plan of the SMC/SACM. The Secretariat of the
Conference is also to be congratulated for its effectiveness and
professionalism.

Let me now turn now to the themes being discussed at this
Conference. Your deliberations during this Conference and its
conclusions will be key inputs for the Highlevel Dialogue on
International Migration and Development to be held at the UN
General Assembly this September.

There is no doubt: migration is one of the major issues of our
times. Given the current direction and character of globalization,
its importance can but grow, as will its complexity and the
associated political, human and development problems. All these are
the issues that you have been discussing since the South American
Conference process started seven years ago in Lima. Indeed, as you
know only too well, more and more people and countries are
increasingly being affected by migration which is, in turn, closely
linked to the development process. Migration globally engenders
benefits and costs not only for receiving countries but also for
countries of origin. Rapid rates of population growth in some
areas, a population decline in others, migration to and from some
regions as well as other critical demographic trends, including
ageing and urbanization, are impacting social, economic and
political parameters in almost all countries.

International migration and development mutually influence each
other. Their interaction is extensive and extremely complex.
Although there is considerable national policy interest in
exploring the root causes of international migration and its impact
on the countries of origin, destination and transit, understanding
the direction and magnitude of such effects is still limited.
Several recent trends, however, have led to increased attention
being given to these issues. Many developing countries are
encountering the loss of skilled human resources as well as the
constantly increasing brain drain phenomenon. Such countries also
do not take full advantage of the positive consequences of
migration through the effective use of the diaspora’s
contribution to the economic development of their countries of
origin.

There is much to be gained from the collaboration between
countries of origin and destination. They can forge partnerships
that foster the positive effects of migration and that promote
migration through legal channels. Such cooperation is all the more
urgent because migration takes place today in a context of enormous
demographic and economic disparities. Estimates indicate that
migration from developing to high-income countries is growing fast,
and this trend is expected to continue over the medium-term.

One strategy widely recognized today for ensuring that migration
contributes to the development of communities of origin concerns
remittances. In 2005, these totalled USD 18 billion for the 12
South American countries. By providing, for instance, access to
financial services, families of migrants can secure credit to make
investments. Another effective strategy is to reduce the costs of
remittance transfers; these fortunately are already being
lowered.

We should also continue to encourage the engagement of migrants
abroad in the development of their home communities and countries.
Various strategies are already being tried in many countries.
Several South American countries, such as Uruguay, Peru, Brazil and
Colombia - to name just a few - have articulated important policies
and programmes is this regard. These activities include:

• direct and financial investment by migrants in their countries
  of origin;
• support by migrant associations to their communities of
  origin;
• transfer of knowledge and know-how, including through the
  internet, to countries of origin through networks of highly trained
  professionals;
• growth of trade in ethnic goods for consumption by communities
  of migrants living abroad;
• capacity-building that takes place in terms of human resources
  through return and circular migration flows.

Ladies and Gentlemen

With this overall perspective, I would now like to turn your
attention to THE HIGH LEVEL DIALOGUE ON MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT
(HLD). It is the very first high-level event of the United Nations
entirely devoted to migration and development. It thereby offers
States the unique opportunity not only to exchange with each other
the best practices in migration management but also to promote
cooperation in key migration fields. The HLD will take place at the
UN General Assembly in New York, in September 2006.

IOM has identified some key issues on which the HLD could
achieve progress. These are:

•  Migration and Development: this dialogue can assist in
  bringing particular attention to the sharing of effective practices
  in the field of migration and development; mainstream migration
  into the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and PRSPs; promote M
  & D indicators; reinforce the economic role of the diaspora;
  enhance the developmental potential of remittances.
• Labour Migration: during this dialogue, States can work to
  develop a more effective global labour market as an investment in
  human beings; protect and support labour migrants; improve the
  security of remittance transfers while lowering their costs; and
  analyze the role of circular migration.
• Human Rights of Migrants: here States can strive to improve the
  understanding and implementation of existing legal instruments;
  promote integration and combat xenophobia and racism.
• International Migration Law: together, we could study how to
  take advantage of the political momentum offered by the HLD to
  increase awareness and effective implementation of existing
  international legal instruments; provide capacity building to
  countries in need of technical cooperation to implement them.
• Managing Migration: we can also contribute to improve coherence
  in government migration policy making; foster dialogue between
  sending and receiving countries; support Regional Consultative
  Processes; strengthen coherence and coordination among agencies
  (for example, the Geneva Migration Group). Here, migrant women
  should find a prominent place and should play a strong role.

Madam Chair,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

To conclude, I am glad that this Conference is focusing on the
development dimension of the migration issues. I would like to
encourage you to obtain concrete results from this Conference that
will feed the global debate on migration and development and, in
particular, the discussions that will take place in New York in
September 2006. Whatever form of cooperation you choose, it is
fundamental that the countries of destination and the countries of
origin and transition work together to resolve common issues - as
you are already doing within the South American Conference. The
trade-off between democracy and development in this region is no
longer an issue for discussion and I congratulate you all for
having accomplished this.

This meeting and your efforts today are a clear expression that
building new alliances and new bridges are the foundations for
tackling the migration challenges we all are facing. Our future and
destiny will strongly depend on these kinds of collaborative
efforts and I commend you for your vision and achievements.

Thank you!!

Señora Presidenta, distinguidos Vice-Ministros, colegas y
amigos,

Es un verdadero privilegio dirigirme a esta Decimoprimera
Reunión Vice-Ministerial de la RCM, precisamente en un
país no solamente emblemático en términos
migratorios pero tambien pionero de múltiples iniciativas
para una mayor y más fructífera relación con
su diáspora.

Gracias, Sra. Embajadora Margarita Escobar, por la generosa
acogida de su gobierno y de su pueblo. Y gracias también por
ofrecerle a esta reunión un marcado significado a
través del lema "Entrelazando Comunidades".

Ladies and gentlemen,

Ten years ago, I had the honor to represent IOM at the founding
meeting of the RCM at Puebla. As I was thinking about my
participation in this meeting – ten years on – I could
not help but be struck by the vast changes we have lived in the
migration world since. International population mobility has
followed broader globalizing trends, involving more people moving
to and from more places in ever more complex, multi-directional
patterns. No country is untouched by migration today. Last week,
for example, I spent two days in Namibia participating in a MIDSA
meeting – MIDSA being the RCM of Southern Africa. Each day,
there was a full-page article on migration in the main national
English-language newspaper. One would not have seen that a decade
ago

And speaking of RCM and MIDSA, the development of such informal,
non-binding migration dialogues throughout the world has been one
of the most fascinating processes to observe over the past decade.
RCPs, as they are called, clearly respond both to the need for
informal multilateral discussion and to the reality of
migration’s sensitive nature; they have sprung up largely
spontaneously and usually without reference to what was going on in
other regions. Now numbering over a dozen worldwide, the evolution
of RCPs is generally considered to be one of the most significant
contributions to international cooperation in the migration field
over the past decade. And the RCM is widely held up as a model RCP.
For those of us who remember the hesitation and skepticism that
surrounded that first meeting in Puebla, the achievements, thanks
to your steady commitment, are all the more impressive.

Women’s role in international migration flows has also
changed dramatically. No longer the traditional “family
following to join”, women increasingly are independent actors
and labor migrants in their own right. Indeed, for the first time,
women constitute not only the majority, but the vast majority, of
several countries’ nationals abroad.

The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of
all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families and the Palermo
Protocols on smuggling and trafficking have all entered into force.
And even countries perhaps unlikely to ratify the migrant workers
convention have explicitly recognized the importance of protecting
the human rights of migrants.

But today, I would like to focus in a bit more detail on one
change which is particularly relevant for this meeting. That is the
evolving relationship with diasporas, how they can contribute to
national development.

If the Government of El Salvador has chosen the theme of
“Linking Communities” for this RCM meeting, it is
certainly no accident. For one of the most notable trends IOM has
tracked over the past decade has indeed been the evolution in
attitudes toward nationals residing abroad –
“diasporas” as they are now almost universally called.
Once again, a term hardly ever heard a decade ago except in
relation to the worldwide Jewish community.

Previously, with few exceptions, ambivalence toward diasporas
prevailed. Sometimes, it tipped slightly more toward the negative:
these were people who had voted with their feet. But easier and
cheaper travel and communication, combined with growing numbers
abroad, recognition of the magnitude of remittances and greater
transparency in government, have changed all that. In addition, the
traditional, static view of migration as a clear loss for
developing countries - through “brain drain” –
has evolved. In its place there is today, a more nuanced
recognition that a globalizing labor market can in fact foster
“brain circulation” and “brain gain”
– benefiting migrants themselves, receiving countries and
countries of origin. Moreover, “virtual” return of
migrants is now a reality: modern information technology (IT)
allows professors based in Chicago to “teach” in
Chihuahua if they wish - a concept IOM has indeed pursued in
Africa, for example.

The new relationship between countries of origin and their
nationals abroad sometimes has a tendency to fixate on remittances.
This is somewhat understandable given the amounts involved: the
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) estimates that Central
America and Mexico received US$28 billion in remittances through
official channels in 2005 - a 17 percent increase from the previous
year. Much of this, as we know, goes into consumption. The
challenge for policy-makers in developed and developing countries
is therefore to create an environment conducive to enhancing the
diasporas’ contributions to development while clearly
recognizing that these are private funds.

In this region as elsewhere, IOM is working with other
stakeholders – including the business community - to promote
and improve links between the diasporas and their countries of
origin. To cite but one example, the Government of El Salvador and
IOM recently launched a project entitled "Enhancing the Impact of
US – El Salvador Community Remittances." This project aims to
improve coordination among stakeholders in both countries and to
build the capacity to create and manage development projects. The
first step focuses on the preparation of a curriculum on
development project design and management (based on a needs
assessment survey). This will be followed by a series of training
events in both countries. An important objective is to reinforce a
bi-national network promoting economic and human development in
communities in El Salvador. For it to succeed, communication will
be a key factor: the project therefore aims to develop a
sustainable communications mechanism, such as a web page,
accompanied by the nece sary training and support. Similar efforts
have been undertaken by IOM in Guatemala with a view to enhancing
the impact of remittances from the diaspora as a tool for
development.

The very concept of “diaspora” is evolving, as
countries re-examine their relations with their nationals abroad.
To gain a better understanding of the dynamics in this region, IOM
recently undertook a study on engaging Latin American and Caribbean
diasporas as agents for development for home and host countries.
The results, based on responses to a questionnaire addressed to IOM
member states and observers, will be published in June and shared
with you all. However, there are already some preliminary results
which I found interesting and would like to share with you today.
First, there appears to be a clear correlation between partnerships
between home and host countries and labour migration dynamics. In
other words, countries of origin with active labour migration
programmes are more likely to seek partnerships with countries of
destination. Regarding remittances, several countries (Colombia,
Honduras and Chile) indicated they had concluded specific
agreements with banks and consulates designed to facilitate
transfers at lower cost. Finally, answers to the questionnaire
provided details regarding a number of innovative programs (Mexico:
Programa Iniciative Ciudadana 3 por 1; Peru: Solidaridad con mi
pueblo; El Salvador: Fondo de Solidaridad de El Salvador) which we
will be analyzing further and describing in the final report.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I spoke earlier about the importance of RCPs in promoting better
understanding and the sharing of good practices at the regional
level. As we meet here, preparations are going forward for another
event which could prove to be a watershed in the international
debate on migration and development at the global level. That is
the High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development
(HLD for short) which will take place in New York in September
2006.

This will be the first-ever high-level discussion in the United
Nations General Assembly entirely devoted to migration. It could
also be a unique opportunity to move from words to action. And in
that respect, the very format – combining plenary sessions
with less formal, theme-based round tables – holds promise
that greater common understanding can be reached and ways found to
move forward in addressing the challenges of today’s new
global migration scenario.

Of course, the outcome will depend on you – UN member
States all. For IOM’s part, we have dedicated ourselves to
analyzing what we see as the principal issues on which progress
could be made - from our perspective and based on our experience.
One result is the document we have distributed here - which we hope
will help States and other stakeholders in their preparations. In
parallel, we have also tried to synthesize what we see as the key
messages that the HLD should make its own. There are seven of them.
In the interest of time, I will go through them only as seven
“headlines.” But you have a handout sheet which
summarizes the rationale behind our suggestions and what,
concretely, they could produce. I hope it provides some food for
thought.

Our seven key messages would be:

First, migration needs to be better integrated into development
policy and planning. Migration impact analyses should figure in
development project planning. At the national level, the HLD should
call for migration to be incorporated, for example, in Poverty
Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs)

Second, countries need migration policies and the internal
capacity to develop them. It is striking how many countries do not
have comprehensive migration policies - and not only in the
developing world. The HLD should result in clear recognition of the
cross cutting nature of migration and should recommend creation of
inter-ministerial working groups as a “good
practice”.

Third, the business community needs to be drawn into the
migration debate. The business community plays a critical role in
the economics of migration. Yet it has usually been absent from the
table, especially at the international level. The HLD should
explicitly recommend real partnership between governments,
intergovernmental organizations, the private business sector and
civil society.

Fourth, better mechanisms are needed to match supply and demand
of labor globally. The labor market is increasingly global.
Mechanisms to measure and match supply and demand, to provide
frameworks for humane, safe, legal and orderly flows to meet the
needs, and to maximize the development potential of migration, have
not kept pace. The HLD should tackle this “unfinished
business of globalization.”

Fifth, the development potential of diasporas needs to be
explored and enhanced. The HLD must continue to call for the cost
of remittances to be reduced. But it must go beyond that to
encourage better understanding of the relationship between
diasporas and home countries, and what motivates diasporas to
invest time, energy or money back home.

Sixth, regional consultations are a key tool for international
understanding and action The RCM is often held up as a model in
this regard. More could be done to encourage crossfertilization
among RCPs globally, increasing the benefit from good practice and
lessons learned.

Seventh – last but certainly not least - better
understanding of migration law will benefit States and migrants
alike. Improving knowledge and understanding about the human rights
of migrants will result in better treatment of migrants. IOM has
taken on the task of compiling and disseminating information about
the vast body of existing international migration law and has begun
focused training sessions – which some of your
representatives in Geneva have already participated in. More
efforts like this are needed.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We live in an age of unprecedented human mobility. Today, no
country - in this region or anywhere else - is untouched today by
migration. All therefore have a stake in seeing the promise of the
High Level Dialogue brought to fruition. What is more, the RCM is
in a unique position to take up the General Assembly’s
invitation that RCPs provide inputs to the HLD debate, because you
have a proud and unrivaled track record. For our part, let me take
this opportunity to emphasize first, IOM’s preparedness to
support your efforts, individually or regionally, in preparing for
the HLD; second, our unwavering commitment to the RCM; and third,
our dedication to working with governments throughout this region
in order to improve migration management for the benefit of all
– starting with the migrant herself.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As an introduction to our work in this expert group meeting on
migrant women, I have the pleasure to briefly review some of the
elements, both negative and positive, that constitute the female
migration experience. These elements will be examined more in-depth
by the experts here over the course of these two days. I should,
nonetheless, like to draw your attention to the countless
contributions made by migrant women and, consequently, to the
importance of the work before us to recognize and give them their
just value. In order to do this, special attention must be devoted
to the good practices that I will raise later in this presentation
to help us reflect on the instruments and means to improve the
situation of migrant women.

MIGRANT WOMEN – OVERVIEW OF
THEIR STATUS

Allow me to begin with a rough outline of the current status of
female migration. As we all know by now, women have been full
actors of international migration. The last decades, however, have
seen an even greater increase in migrant women around the world. In
other words, international migration is characterized by a rapid
and increasing feminization to such an extent that the number of
women who migrate today is equal to that of men on a global scale
– and often higher in certain regions.

In concrete terms, women today tend to migrate more
independently and no longer for family reunification reasons or as
dependants of male migrants. With these new migration patterns, new
problems and consequently new solutions have emerged that will
require reflection.

Quantitatively, the volume of international migration is
practically equal for men and women. In 2000, the latter totaled
approximately 49% of the total number of migrants in the world.
More precisely, women and girls were slightly more numerous than
men in developed countries. In developing countries, they totaled
slightly less than 45% of the total number of migrants. On a
regional level, migrant women numerically outnumbered men in
Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America and Oceania
while in Africa and in Asia they were generally under-represented
when compared to men. ^"#1">1

Overall, we can also confirm that in terms of gender, the
relatively new economic and social changes – often designated
by the word ‘globalization’ - are not neutral. These
changes and their effects act and interact on a global level,
exceeding traditional notions of time and space. Today, I do not
propose to dwell on these important aspects of international
migration. We can, nonetheless, affirm that there are decisive
factors that impact differently on migrants depending on whether
they are men or women, be it in the labour market, in unfavourable
legislation, economic deregulation, supply and demand, or in
conflicts – and the list is long.

Moreover, as these ongoing changes have increased the level of
female migration in a more visible manner, we can ask what are the
characteristics, particularly in terms of contributions, of the
advantages and disadvantages of female migration? Under which
conditions are the lives of these different actors played out? How
can we encourage initiatives introduced by these women to improve
their lives? And above all, in which way can these women become
real actors of economic and social development?

In reference to the latter, author Christine VERSCHUUR
^{class="endnote-link">2} feels that a gendered
outlook on contemporary migration can “(…)
class="paragraph-italics">Give prominence to the contribution of
women in the new international division of labour (…) Give
prominence to women among migrants (…) Give prominence to
the financial contribution of female migrant workers in their
country of origin (…) Underscore the economic and social
discrimination against migrant women (…)Undo preconceived
ideas on migration (its causes, effects, dangers) to demonstrate
the diversity of the phenomenon in terms of resources and
alternatives for development, but also in terms of abuse and
hypocrisies (…)” ^"#3">3. At this point, it becomes necessary to
take stock of the negative and positive reality of female migration
to promote the dynamic initiatives deriving from it.

How can such an approach be justified within the framework of
our workshop? We have all most assuredly felt, and rightly so, that
female migration has assumed an ever more important place over
these last years in different actions and programmes. This theme
presents, nonetheless, a heterogeneous panorama that lacks general
markers in some ways, particularly as concerns a long-term vision
of female migration, its multiple causes and effects. But above
all, it is henceforth indispensable to emphasize its positive
aspects and the capital role played by migrant women on an
international scale. Thus, we will try in this workshop to better
define the concrete situation of these women as well the dynamics
that stigmatize their lives, and to make concrete proposals for
improvement.

Until today, numerous efforts have been made to integrate the
variable ‘woman’ - not to mention the gender dimension
- into studies on migration. This dimension is as crosscutting and
multidimensional as is the migration phenomenon. Gender is
therefore indispensable to understanding the situation of migrant
women and migrant men but also of the functions attributed to men
and to women according to the hierarchy of gender.

Indeed, is it not the life experiences of these women that
interest us here, experiences that become progressively but
tangibly much more visible? What also becomes more visible is the
role they play within their families, their countries of origin as
well as in their host countries. How can we promote mechanisms
making migrant women full fledged actors of their migration
experience? How can their involvement be optimized especially
within the labour context that would on the one hand: 1) encourage
their integration in and contribute to the host country; and on the
other: 2) contribute to the well being of their country of origin?
I believe this issue must be addressed not only on the level of the
family but its analysis must also encourage migrant women to be
sources of change, decisions, and of progress.

IMPROVING THE SITUATION OF MIGRANT
WOMEN AND MAXIMIZING THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS: SOME THOUGHTS

In concrete terms: how can migrant women themselves profit from the
migration process? How can we reinforce the interests of migrant
women to improve their situation at all levels? On which level can
access to information, influence before institutions, communication
of their experiences or simply their visibility be maximized, in
particular by insisting on the influence of gender factors and the
role these can play? GIVING PROMINENCE
TO AND PROMOTING MIGRANT WOMEN

For example, it is absolutely necessary to highlight the
contributions of migrant women to the development of countries and
reinforce their position as workers and creators of economic
resources⁴. We
know that migrant women find themselves in certain employment
sectors but unfortunately within those professions that fall on
female manpower: jobs as ‘care-givers’ in the widest
sense (domestic service, care of the elderly, the sick, and
children) jobs requiring patience, detail and repetition, and
sexual work including prostitution and pornography. These are the
sectors where one can find the worst remuneration, irregular
situations, marginalization and a lack of social protection. A
large concentration of migrant women is, therefore, found in a
limited number of occupations in precarious working conditions.
What can be done?

It is imperative to give special attention to migrant women
since we note an “under-estimation of the role of migrant
women in economic development and general well-being (they are
often considered as economically inactive and
“dependants”) ^"#5">5. Their existence must first be promoted as well as
the importance of their contributions at all levels and attention
drawn to their situation that, at one and the same time, is
special, manifold and diverse. Qualified migration “is also
important to be given prominence in this migration category and
attention must be paid to their situation and different needs as
compared with those of men” ^"#6">6. Visibility must be considered a fundamental
objective. We need to not only underscore this visibility but also
that of diversity. This latter represents a profitable
contribution, enriching and constructive but also egalitarian:
“The “positive” or “affirmative”
actions destined to women are in reality specific interventions
that take into consideration their diverse situation and positions,
in comparison with men, which necessitates specific steps with the
aim of guaranteeing equity in the results and benefits”
^{class="endnote-link">7}.

The dynamism of migrant women:
in other respects, it is important to change a certain negative
perception of migrant women and to promote the awareness of a
special savoir-faire and often exceptional dynamism: “In the
case of women in particular, the mere fact of emigrating to another
country indicates a dynamism and a will to assume risks and
challenges. Many migrant women are at the avant garde of changes,
especially once they return to their country of origin. They give
the example of courage and determination to realize and attain
their own objectives and projects” ^{"endnote-link">8}. "paragraph-bold">EMPOWERMENT

To achieve this, it is more than desirable to implement policies
and actions that reinforce the independence of migrant women and of
their organizations ^"#9">9. In other words, we need to reflect on concrete
démarches that would reinforce the situation of migrant
women.

According to various definitions, empowerment applied to migrant
women “aims at increasing their capacities and their
independence. The creation of organizations for and by migrant
women is a good practice presenting different advantages. Meeting
other migrants can break social isolation and offer the possibility
of collectively analyzing their situation, defining their needs and
finding adequate solutions. To realize that certain violations of
their rights are not based on “personal inadequacy” but
rather on social exclusion mechanisms and discrimination can
increase their self-esteem and their capacity to formulate
proposals and viable solutions”.
^{href="#10">10} This is an interesting issue: it is from
socially gendered mechanisms that different situations arise and
are confronted by migrants. The various forms of exclusion and
discrimination borne are consequently the fruit of their condition
as women, migrant women, in other words foreigners in a
hierarchical environment. This aspect should not be minimized.

Naturally, the principles of empowerment lead us to reflect on
the participation of these women. Indeed, the participation of
women at all levels must advance the idea that they should be
active actors in programmes and not passive beneficiaries.

Another point I feel strongly about and that I will ask you to
consider is that of the expertise women acquire during their
migration experience. On the one hand – and as I said earlier
– women who acquired their independence and thereby enjoying
a noteworthy status are an encouraging model for future generations
and in those sectors having key importance for development such as
health and education, child protection and local environment. On
the other hand, and more particularly within the context of
professional migrant women, the latter working abroad have often
wished to contribute to the development of their country. Among
other things, by associating themselves as investors with local
partners to create jobs and stimulate all types of initiatives and
projects whose value would be or is priceless. More precisely,
these women ask not only to contribute to the economic and social
development of the receiving as well as the country of origin, but
aspire frequently to optimizing their skills to multiply them
later.

Nor should we forget to recall the considerable importance of
remittances sent by migrants from one area to the other of the
planet! Beyond the fact that women are recognized as being more
reliable and regular in their remittances, the amounts constituting
these transfers of capital are considerable. It would be wiser to
examine the means of channeling financial contributions produced by
these diasporas, through development efforts for the countries of
origin.

These last two phenomena - the transfer of expertise of migrant
women and that of special contributions by female diasporas to
their country of origin (financial, social, human) - are new and I
feel they require special attention.

RECOMMENDATIONS

One of the solutions resides, for example, in community action
aimed at the strengthening of and cooperation to migrant women
according to the principles of empowerment. The importance of
women’s organizations in self-managed networks could also be
underlined as a solution to improve the disadvantaged situation
often tied to “non-citizenship”.

Collaboration among official entities, States, international
organizations, NGOs and associations of different migrant
communities could be highly constructive. These actions should
include training (in women’s rights, community participation,
prevention of violence, professional insertion, etc.), promotion of
cultural activities (meetings and workshops), information and
counseling (on rights, health, education, discrimination, violence,
legalization of status, etc.) ^"#11">11.

In the same vein, it is notably imperative to obtain data on
associations, social networks, initiatives and programmes by and
for migrants. The influence of these initiatives on the positive
integration of these women in the host countries is also to be
determined. I would suggest here that we set an objective to
identify the convergences, divergences and interactions of our
different approaches in this field that gather us here today. In
the same vein and in our attempt to examine these issues
positively, it is imperative that we address and then integrate
these types of initiatives and experiences already carried out by
migrant women themselves.

A great number of migrant women having lived for some time in a
receiving country are often certain of wanting to continue living
there. These women do not dream of going back home except to visit
and have begun to create small groups with other women –
migrants as themselves or from their country – to improve
their life. They participate and interact with their environment to
different degrees. For example, by going back to school, by
attending public or political events, creating and leading all
sorts of initiatives and often demonstrating solidarity in
situations of domestic or social violence. The degree of
participation in community or political life (if this is possible)
of certain migrants often transforms them into ‘reference
points’. They are in all cases considered
‘different’ because they have established contacts with
institutions of civil society or with States for different
démarches. This is the case in many regions of the world: we
can think of women from Latin America who migrated to North or
South America, Filipino women who organize themselves almost
everywhere, or certain groups of African migrants (for example from
the Great Lakes region) working for their interests as migrants but
also to the reconstruction of their countries of origin.

Among these women, some become models themselves, active to such
an extent that their contributions in economic, social or political
terms lead them to become real leaders. I insist on this point: it
is inevitable to integrate our approaches and to encourage the
contributions of these women in matters of governance,
participation in decision-making and exercise of power, be it in
the country of origin or in the receiving country. We must here
innovate and promote female leadership in migrant diasporas by
facilitating their involvement in the development process not only
in their communities but also in their countries of origin.

Allow me to pause here to speak of another important subject,
that of a coming event.

THE HIGH LEVEL DIALOGUE ON MIGRATION
AND DEVELOPMENT is the very first high-level event of the
United Nations entirely devoted to Migration and Development
thereby offering States the unique opportunity not only to exchange
among themselves best practices in migration management but also
promote cooperation in key migration fields. The HLD will take
place in September 2006.

IOM has thus identified some key issues for debate within the
HLD. They are:

Migration and Development: this
dialogue can assist in drawing particular attention to the sharing
of effective practices in the field of migration and development;
mainstream migration into the MDGs and PRSPs; promote the use of M
& D indicators; reinforce the economic role of the diaspora and
the developmental potential of remittances. The aspects I raised
earlier in this context are inevitable and the migrant woman has a
unique role to play therein. Labour
Migration: during this dialogue, States can also work to
develop a more effective global labour market, as an investment in
human beings; protect and support labour migrants; improve the
security of remittance transfers while lowering their costs;
analyse the role of circular migration. Here, women are active in
social change linked to the improved wellbeing of their families.
Human Rights of Migrants: we
could also work to improve the understanding and implementation of
existing legal instruments; promote integration and combat
xenophobia and racism. With regard to migrant women, integrating
gender analysis is a must particularly within Human Rights issues
to fight multiple discrimination, i.e. race/ethnicity – class
- gender. International Migration
Law: we could take advantage of the political momentum
offered by the HLD to increase awareness and effective
implementation of existing international legal instruments; provide
capacity building to countries in need of technical cooperation to
implement them. Managing
Migration: we could also work to improve coherence in
government migration policy-making; foster dialogue between sending
and receiving countries; support Regional Consultative Processes;
strengthen coherence and coordination among agencies (for example
the Geneva Migration Group). Here is where migrant women must find
a place and play a strong role. "paragraph-bold">CONCLUSION

I should like first of all to underscore the need for all actions
in favour of migrant women, and to dispose of precise data,
especially sexdisaggregated. By this, I mean not only statistics
but even more the need for qualitative research. To have such
detailed data would provide the possibility of developing actions
and programmes with a gender dimension and its diverse facets in
the migration equation. This is a fundamental step that would also
provide the possibility for a more human and positive dimension in
research.

In the same vein, it has become urgent for all of here today to
collaborate in a joint endeavour: in the long-term, the objective
could be to obtain a clear picture but also to develop a reference
tool on migrant women and their experiences. This would constitute
a real challenge and could perhaps make up for the lack of more
detailed information in the field. How can we aspire to such an
objective and long-term challenge while hoping to be
exhaustive?

As I suggested earlier, several actions could be envisaged with
the aim of improving, giving prominence to, and raising awareness
to female mobility and their experience. I can think of existing
media or artistic initiatives, awareness-raising or field
activities, guides to assist with departure or arrival, or also
“Initiatives and actions in the host countries, devoted to
organizing women, informing them of their rights and offering
various types of training” ^"#12">12. It would be interesting to gather and give
prominence to studies or publications on the often exceptionally
efficient and mobilizing economic and social role played by migrant
women.

For let us not forget, the challenge now is to prove that they
can be more active, make decisions, thwart age-old values, and
become agents of change. These are the changes on which all men and
women must build. ^"#13">13

Thank you.

---

^"1">1  The World in Motion: Short Essays on
Migration and Gender, Lauren B. Engle, IOM 2004, p.5

^"2">2  VERSCHUUR, Christine, “Un regard
genré sur les migrations”, in Femmes en mouvement,
Genre, migrations, et nouvelle division internationale du travail,
Collection Yvonne Preiswerk, DDC/UNESCO, IUED, 2004

^"3">3  VERSCHUUR, Christine, ibid, pp15-16

^"4">4  DAEREN, Lieve, Género en la
migración laboral internacional en América latina y
el Caribe, Pautas para « buenas prácticas » en
la formulación de políticas y programas dirigidos a
trabajadoras y trabajadores migrantes. International workshop on
best practices of migrant workers and their families organised by
the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Santiago de
Chile, June 2000, ECLAC, Women and Development Unit, Santiago de
Chile, 2000.

^"5">5  GRAEME, Hugo, “Migration and
Women’s Empowerment” in PRESSER, Harriet/SEN, Gita
(ed), Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Processes, Moving
beyond Cairo, Oxford, 2000, p.288

^"6">6  DAEREN, Lieve, Op. Cit. 2000, p.10

^"7">7  DAEREN, Lieve, Op. Cit, 2000, p.11

^"8">8  DAEREN, Lieve, Ibid, p.11

^"9">9  DAEREN, Lieve, Ibid, p.11

^"10">10  DAEREN, Lieve, Ibid, p.12

^"11">11  BELTRAN, Marie Elena and ZULMA Cristina,
« Mujeres Migrantes en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires :
Género, integración y discriminación »
in Buenos Aires. Ciudad CON Migrantes, Programa Todas,
Dirección General de la Mujer, Buenos Aires, 2002

^"12">12  DAEREN,Lieve, Op.Cit., 2000, p.9

^"13">13  Interview of Ms. Ndioro Ndiaye by INSTRAW,
April 2006.