Within the framework of the UN General Assembly's High-level
Meeting on Africa's Development Needs, IOM and UNHCR will co-host a
panel discussion on Migration, Population Displacement &
Sustainable Development in New York on Monday.

The panel discussion, which will be moderated by IOM Deputy
Director General Mme Ndioro Ndiaye, will highlight Africa's
population as one of the most mobile in the world, both within and
outside the continent, whether in terms of migration or forced
displacement. 

Migration or displacement may have negative consequences for the
countries concerned, but migrants are an important resource and
population movement can bring long term benefits for the continent
as a whole.

High level international panellists will discuss the need for
innovative ways to overcome the many challenges facing sustainable
development in Africa, including the potential contribution of
those who migrate or who are displaced to the development of their
countries of origin and their countries of destination.

They will also address the challenge of how to harness the
positive effects of durable solutions for refugees and internally
displaced persons to ensure that their integration or reintegration
contributes to sustainable development.

The discussion will also explore the reasons for Africa's
mobility.  While population movements are increasingly due to
globalisation, many people continue to be forcibly displaced. 
Disputes and competition over access to land and natural resources
are often the cause. In other cases armed conflict and internal
displacement have themselves caused disputes over land and natural
resources. In both situations, durable solutions must be found.

A summary of the panel discussion will be included in the final
documentation of the High-Level Meeting on Africa's Development
Needs. 

Media are welcome to attend this event, which will be in
Conference Room C at UN HQ.

For more information please contact:

Amy Muedin

IOM New York

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

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