Participation of the Scalabrini International Migration Network at this forum is key to continue enhancing dialogue and collaboration with governments and civil society organizations at national, regional and international levels.
Berlin, Germany, June 29, 2017 – The Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN) has previously attended to the prior editions of the Global Forums on Migration and Development, and this year was no exception. Kevin Appleby, Senior Director for International Migration policy of SIMN and CMS, and Fr. Jairo Guidini, Regional Director of SIMN South America and President of the Scalabrini Foundation in Paraguay represented SIMN.
The Tenth Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) was held in Germany from June 28-30, 2017. The Forum remains a state-led, informal and non-binding process open to all States that are Members and Observers of the United Nations. The GFMD was created following the proposal of the United Nations Secretary-General at the UN General Assembly High-level Dialogue (HLD) on International Migration and Development in September 2006. Its purpose is to address, in a transparent manner, the multidimensional aspects, opportunities and challenges related to international migration and its inter-linkages with development, to bring together government expertise for all regions, to enhance dialogue and cooperation and partnership and to foster practical and action-oriented outcomes at the national, regional and global levels.
In 2017, the main theme of the GFMD was “Towards a Global Social Contract on Migration and Development”. This signals in particular the imperative to address and balance the interests between migrants and their countries of origin, transit states and destinations, within the framework of regular and orderly migration.
“SIMN calls for commitments from governments to increase legal avenues for migration, so migrants do not face dangerous journeys to find safety and opportunity,” said Kevin Appleby, Senior Director for international migration policy of SIMN. Appleby emphasized the need for maintaining family-based immigration, as families contribute to economies, provide support to their members, and act as protection space for their family members when governments fail to do so.
In the same stage, Fr. Jairo also mentioned “we need public policies that protect migrants and establish alternatives to the detention of migrants.”
About SIMN – SIMN is supporting more than 250 Scalabrinian centers, shelters and programs that are providing lodging, food, training and employment programs; psychological and religious services; protection to victims of human trafficking and support in the integration process to migrants, refugees and seafarers in five continents. In 2016, for example, Scalabrinian Centers has supported 120,738 migrants and refugees and 172,790 seafarers. SIMN is also supporting a network of schools providing education, school supplies, and food, (possibly their only meal of the day) to thousands of needy children. In addition, SIMN is an accredited Non-Governmental Organization at the United Nations, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Organization of American States (OAS) and from this perspective is providing research and support for regional and global policies to protect and promote the dignity and the rights of migrants and their families.