Your Excellency, President Sampaio,

High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations,

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honour for the International Organization for Migration
(IOM) to participate, once again, in this Group of Friends
Ministerial Meeting of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
– as we did last year here; and earlier in Istanbul; and
several months ago in Rio.

Mr. President, in your opening remarks you asked us to reflect
on the challenges ahead in order to achieve the goals and
priorities of the Alliance as expressed in the revised 2nd
Implementation Plan for 2009-2011.  In your Third Annual
Report you also highlight a number of challenges the Alliance
faces.

In addressing the challenge of diversity in societies in a
period of mass migration, I would like to make three points.

I.  Societies in Transition

A major challenge – and opportunity – that nations
face is the increasing diversity of our societies.  This
growing diversity is making migration a major priority for
virtually every country in the world.  Today's reality is that
we live in a world where more people are on the move than at any
other time in recorded history: 214 million international migrants;
and 740 million internal migrants. In other words, a billion people
are on the move – or one in every seven persons on the globe.
The overwhelming majority of these international and internal
migrants are fully law-abiding members of society.  Migrants
contribute, in both small and large ways, to the economic, social
and cultural life of their communities. Intercultural dialogue
is critical to realizing this contribution.

Today, increasingly, societies are comprised of a diverse body
of individuals who may have dual nationalities, overlapping
identities, and family connections or business interests that span
more than one country.  Indeed, the very composition of many
nation-states is evolving, with more and more becoming
multicultural, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-ethnic
societies.

II. Governments under Pressure

Migration-induced diversity is generating a growing anxiety at
local, regional and global levels.  In some cases, the
emerging multi-cultural composition of societies is driving
communities apart and putting democracies under pressure. 
Some countries are in denial – a refusal to recognize that
demographic trends; labour market demands; and North-South
push-pull factors make mass migration inevitable.  And this is
a reality that is unlikely to change for several decades. 
Much of government anxiety about migration is based on inadequate
public information and education about migrants' contributions to
host societies.  The more severe critics might say that this
is willful ignorance that perpetuates destructive stereotypes of
migrants.

III. The AOC as One Response

This migration dynamic underscores the importance of the
Alliance of Civilizations.  More remains to be done to debunk
these "migration myths" and harmful stereotypes about
migration.  It is urgent to inform and educate the public
about migrants and their positive contributions to society. During
economic crises, migrants are often subject to unfair and
misinformed labeling and scapegoating; in the worst cases this
leads to discriminatory, racist and xenophobic intolerance.

Raising awareness about the realities of migration and migrants'
immense contribution to all facets of life is a chief priority for
IOM.  We are pleased to report that we have been able to
enhance some of our activities through our excellent partnership
with the Alliance of Civilizations.

Intercultural dialogue among states, regions, countries and
communities is one of the most effective means to ensure that
social change is harmonious.  In this respect, the Alliance of
Civilizations is playing a key role.

I am keeping my intervention brief due to time
limitations.  Further information on IOM's excellent
collaboration with the Alliance on various initiatives including
through “PLURAL+” and the “Online Community on
Migration and Integration” are available in my written
statement.

Rest assured of IOM's continued and unfailing full support of
the AoC.

Thank you Mr. President. 

*****

AOC/IOM COLLABORATION UPDATE

Recognizing youth as powerful agents of social change in a world
often characterized by intolerance, cultural and religious
divisions, IOM and the AoC are implementing
PLURAL+ for a second year, a Youth Video Festival
aimed at involving youth in addressing the key challenges in their
communities related to migrant integration, inclusiveness,
identity, diversity, human rights and social cohesion.

In its initial year, PLURAL+ has proven to be a successful
platform for young people to present their voice at a global
level.  What started out as a pilot project in conjunction
with the Alliance of Civilizations has turned out to be an
exceptional partnership combining the interest of youth in media
and the sharing of their migration stories.

IOM is pleased that through PLURAL+ we have been able to give
young people worldwide a voice to communicate and participate in
today's important social debates related to migration,
cross-cultural dialogue and diversity. It is clear through PLURAL+
that the increased participation of youth in the media is essential
to ensuring that decision-makers have a better understanding of how
policy issues related to migration, integration and inclusiveness
affect global populations. We must also not forget that these young
people, agents of social change, make up a large portion of today's
migrant population.

At the Alliance's Third Global Forum in Rio this year, IOM and
the Alliance jointly launched the Online Community on
Migration and Integration.  The Online Community will
highlight successful models of integration of migrants to counter
polarizing speech and stereotypes, and encourage the replication of
these models in other contexts, while promoting further involvement
of a wide range of stakeholders.  It aims to do this through
proactive outreach to policy makers and opinion leaders within its
network of partners, promoting a sense of ownership among users,
becoming a hub for sharing replicable practices, and eventually
triggering effective change. For this purpose, the Alliance and IOM
plan to facilitate workshops convening a wide range of partners in
a process of mutual exchange and cooperation, thereby engaging
governments, civil society and newcomers in jointly building
societies of inclusion and participation.

All of these projects involve partners in fruitful cooperation
that we are eager to expand.  In this regard, we welcome all
of our “Friends” to join with us to continue these
efforts.

IOM is active in and pleased to see the creation of the regional
strategies for South East Europe and the Mediterranean.  IOM
and its Country Offices around the globe stand ready to strengthen
and expand cooperation at national and regional levels with the
Group of Friends and to participate actively in the elaboration and
implementation of regional strategies and National Action
Plans.