The international civil society groups stressed today the importance of accurate data and research for achieving the goal of protecting and empowering over 250 million migrants and their families all over the world.

During the first day of Civil Society Days of the 2^nd Global Forum on Migration and Development at the Philippine International Convention Center, the participants have also agreed that the role to strengthen data and research is the prime responsibility of both the participating governments and civil society groups.

“The intention is to provide accurate and updated data for the betterment of migrant workers worldwide,” said Leonir Chiarello, chairperson of the discussion on strengthening data and research tools on migration and development.

“Data gathering and research should be strengthened to reinforce policies relevant to the migration and development,” Chiarello added.

Michael Clemens’, resource speaker from  the Center for Global Development, tackled the need to address the issues concerning children of migrant workers left behind in the countries of origin.

“We have to know the impact of the migration on the children who are left behind by both parents,” Clemens said.

Clemens emphasized the need to address through data and statistics the basic needs of the migrant workers’ children such as health, education and psycho-social aspects of their lives.

“We have no quantitative studies addressing mental health of these children who are left behind by their parents in their countries of origin.  We have to know the negative effect because social cost of migration can be very high,” Clemens said.

Chiarello said the all the recommendations and suggestions of the international civil society groups will be forwarded to the governments meeting of the GFMD set on October 29-30.