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By Katrice R. Jalbuena, Reporter
It’s all systems go for the Philippines in
hosting the Second Meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and
Development (GFMD) in October.
Esteban Conejos, undersecretary for migrant
workers’ affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs, said the
forum will have as its central theme “Protecting and Empowering
Migrants for Development.”
The international meet will draw participants
from more than 100 United Nations member states.
“The goal of the forums is to present how
migration can have a positive effect not just on migrants and their
families, but also on their countries of origin and countries of
destinations,” said Conejos.
The GFMD is a global consultative process aimed
at addressing the multidimensional aspects, opportunities and
challenges related to international migration and its inter-linkages
with development.
Participating in the forum is open to all 192 UN
member states and representatives of civil society groups.
“The theme for this year’s forum reflects
the reality that, for migration to have a positive impact on
development, the rights of migrants must be protected,” said
Conejos.
He added that the forum will allow participants
to share experiences and best practices, and advance the view that
the protection of migrants is a shared responsibility of
labor-sending and labor-receiving countries.
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