PRESS RELEASE No. 19

 MANILA, Philippines, Oct. 29 -- Branding human exploitation as the anti-thesis of development, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today called for tighter safeguards to protect the rights of migrants and declared that migrants should be accorded with respect due any human being. 

The UN official also expressed elation with the inclusion of “human rights” as one of the major topics in this year’s Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD).

”I am also pleased that protection of human rights features prominently in this forum (GFMD),” Ban said in his opening address to the GFMD delegation at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Plenary Hall Wednesday.

“Only by safeguarding the rights of migrants, and ensuring that migrants are treated with the dignity and respect due any human being, can we create the conditions which migration can contribute to development. Exploitation is the anti-thesis of development.  In this time of financial hardships, we all need to be especially vigilant,” the UN secretary general stressed.

Ban also stressed that closer cooperation and coordination between governments, civil society and other stakeholders are essential in addressing the issue of human rights protection for migrant workers.

The UN official also said that last year’s GFMD meeting in Brussels, Belgium kicked off a tremendous momentum where 156 delegates from all around the globe got the chance to exchange experience and explore new ideas.   

Among these are leveraging of remittances, fostering co-development, promoting the entrepreneurial spirits of migrants, and helping countries of origin tap the skills of their migrants abroad, he said.

”This year, you (delegates) will build on those exchanges by discussing how to protect the rights of migrants, foster opportunities for regular migration, and improve policy coherence through partnership,” Ban said.

The UN secretary general also lauded President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Philippine government for “their outstanding work in preparing the 2nd GFMD and bringing us all together here in the captivating city of Manila.”

It is never easy to host an event such as the GFMD, Ban pointed out, citing Brussels’ hosting of the first ever meeting of the GFMD. 

But the Philippines has hurdled the challenge, he added.  “Your experience as one of the most important countries of emigration, whose citizens are respected around the world, makes you (Philippines) a natural leader in this field,” Ban told the delegates.

The UN official also expressed his optimism on GFMD’s future with the generous offer of Greece to host the third GFMD meeting next year in Athens.