On the occasion of International Migrants’ Day in a year that
marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, a panel discussion on The Human Rights of Migrants:
Facilitating Participation of Migrants in National and
International Affairs will be held in New York on 18 December 2008.

The event is part of the Migration and Development Series, a
collaboration amongst IOM, the United Nations Institute For
Training and Research (UNITAR) and the United Nations Population
Fund (UNFPA), for the New York diplomatic community which aims to
stimulate critical thinking about migration and its various
considerations and inter-linkages.  The Center for Migration
Studies (CMS) and the International Institute for Democracy and
Electoral Assistance (IDEA) are also co-sponsoring this event.

The panel discussion will focus on how new concepts of human
mobility, trans-nationalism and circular migration emerging along
the more traditional migratory patterns, are affecting the
participation of migrants in public life, including their interest
and ability to contribute economically, socially, culturally and
politically to both their countries of destination and origin.

Panel moderator and Permanent Observer of IOM to the United
Nations, Luca Dall’Oglio, says "Often times, when speaking of
migrants’ contributions to their countries of origin,
reference is usually made to their remittances, limiting this
discourse to economic contributions.  Easily overlooked are
the social and political contributions of migrants to their
countries of origin; for example, by way of knowledge networks,
skills, values and through their political participation."

This discussion will present recent initiatives to advance
knowledge on and galvanize political support for the human rights
of migrants.  On the threshold of the 60th anniversary of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it will reflect on
challenges and opportunities for realizing migrants’
rights.  These include maintaining the focus on
migrants’ welfare, rights and protection in the current
debate on international migration and development. 

In addition, particular emphasis will be placed on the
less-discussed issue of migrants’ political participation in
the democratic developments and public life in their countries of
origin.

The event is open to the public.  It is taking place at
United Nations Headquarters Conference Room 8. 

For more information on the conference: "paragraph-link-no-underline" href=
"http://www.un.int/iom/18%20December.html" target="_blank" title=
"">http://www.un.int/iom/18%20December.html.

For further information, please contact:

Amy Muedin

IOM New York

Tel: +1-212-681-7000 ext. 212

E-mail: "mailto:amuedin@iom.int">amuedin@iom.int