Your Excellency, Mininster of the Interior, Angelino Alfano,
Your Excellencies, Ministers of the Interior,
Mr. Secretary and Madame Attorney General,
Representatives of European and International Organizations,
Distinguished delegates,

It is a great honour for me to share some thoughts with this distinguished audience.

I wish to thank the Italian Government and Minister of Interior, The Honorable Angelino Alfano, for the invitation.

I would like to make three points [before saying a few words about the video that we have just seen,] to try to put the migration mega-trend into context.

I. The Global Context: “A World on the Move”

We live in a world on the move.  Migration today is, more than ever, a global issue -- a priority for all governments. We live in a world of unprecedented human mobility. One billion of our seven billion world are migrants -- one in seven of us.

Overwhelmingly, international migration takes place through regular and safe channels -- pathways that are of great benefit to migrants and countries of origin and destination. In this regard, most migration is a triple-win.

On the other hand, unfortunately, millions of men, women and children -- some 65 million, in fact -- are uprooted and forced to move as the world faces an unprecedented series of simultaneous, and complex and protracted crises along an “arc of instability” from the Western bulge of Africa to the Himalayas. Nowhere has this been felt as acutely as in the Mediterranean.

Other drivers include (1) demographic imbalances; the (2) digital revolution;  (3) distance-shrinking technology, growing socio-economic disparities and inequality, disasters and environmental degradation.

In the Mediterranean region, we are particularly concerned about (a) how ruthless the smugglers and traffickers have become in Libya;  and (b)  that the Mediterranean has become the deadliest body of water in the world for migrants.

In addition to this, we suspect that thousands more die attempting to cross the Sahara.

More than 3,600 migrants died this year in the Mediterranean Sea --  A number that is 24 per cent higher than all of last year.  The cruel irony is that most governments don’t keep statistics on those who die on their shores.  So, after the Lampedusa tragedy in October 2013, IOM started assembling statistics on migrant deaths.  We published a volume in 2014 called “Fatal Journey” in which we confirmed 40,000 deaths along migratory routes since 2000. 

Our latest edition of “Fatal Journeys”, just published, puts the death toll at 55,000.  I wish to thank and praise the heroic work of the Italian Coast Guard which, under operation “Mare Nostrum”, saved several hundred thousand lives; as well as the heroic efforts of the Hellenic, Maltese, Turkish and Libyan Coast Guards, which continue to rescue migrants from the sea and certain death every day.

Many of the crises that propel these displacements, forced movements and migrant deaths are unlikely to be resolved in the short to medium term.

Besides these challenges the world faces the demographic challenge of a global north in demographic deficit and labour market shortages and a global south with growing youthful populations and a demographic surplus.

Against this backdrop, widespread and growing anti-immigrant sentiment.  And security concerns have led to a further cruel irony that those fleeing terror and armed conflict are themselves accused of terrorism and criminality.  In a certain sense, the world is in the midst of a “Perfect Storm”.

II. The need for a comprehensive response (High Road Scenario) - “ World on the High Road”

IOM’s thesis is that migration is inevitable owing to these drivers; that it is necessary if our economies and societies are to flourish; and, that it is desirable if our policies are humane and if migration is safe and orderly.

To achieve this will require that we face up to 2 major challenges:

(a) changing the toxic migration narrative -- historically, migration has been overwhelmingly positive. And the world needs to return to an historically accurate migrant narrative.  Many countries have been built on the backs and with the brains of migrants. As public officials and as thought leaders, we need to use our power of public pronouncement to accurately articulate the positive contribution of migrants to our communities; and,

(b) learning to manage cultural, ethnic and religious diversity -- many countries are facing major challenges in migrant integration. Inexorably growing diversity: cultural, ethnic, religious.  “The future is now.” What we all need to understand is that integration will only be possible by promoting tolerant societies that value diversity and recognize migrants’ contributions. Media support is critical in this endeavour -- as are government programmes of public education and information.  We need evidence-based policies to counter xenophobic stereotypes and migration “mythology” that endanger the lives of migrants and deprive our societies and economies of their contributions.

A comprehensive approach to migration must also:

 (a) broaden legal entry channels;
(b) support and cooperate with law enforcement to arrest and prosecute traffickers and smugglers, and
(c)improve dialogue and cooperation between destination countries and the countries of origin and transit -- all so that sustainable solutions can be developed jointly.

But effective migration management can only go so far if a strictly top-down approach is employed. Holistic migration management should empower and inform migrants by providing them with accurate and authoritative information so that migrants make responsible decisions. This brings me to my third and final point.

III. The importance of accurate and authoritative information  -   “ An Informed World”

The dangerous, violent and abusive conditions are a major reason for the Mediterranean crossings and deaths. What is striking is that many migrants are unaware of the dangers and risk of irregular migration facilitated by unscrupulous criminal networks of the traffickers and smugglers who gamble with their lives. (I remember and often use Ministers Alfano’s description of smugglers as the “ Travel Agents of Death”.)

Young people, women and children are more easily manipulated  -- at great risk of abuse and violence -- even if they survive, many end up traumatised for life after such an experience.

It is, therefore, our moral duty to inform migrants and to make them aware of what the risks are and to help them make more informed decisions. The goal is to save life.

That is why we are  proud of the “Aware Migrants” campaign -- an Italian initiative developed under the leadership of Minister Alfano  -- a campaign to inform migrants and potential migrants about the risks of irregular migration across the Saharan desert and the Mediterranean Sea. This campaign will use migrants’ own accounts about the dangers and risks through stories collected by IOM in Italy and in transit countries.

IOM is deeply committed to assisting Italian authorities to shape the campaign; and, we proudly look forward to continuing to work with Italy, and other EU Member States and others countries involved in this campaign in the months ahead.

Migration is here to stay; what must end is people’s suffering and death.  Migration is not a problem to be solved.  It is a human reality to be managed.

I thank again Minister Alfano for giving us the opportunity to work on such an urgent challenging project, and also our good friend, Prefect Mario Morcone, who strongly supported the creation of the “Aware Migrants” campaign.