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.