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 Ms. Pawliczko serves as focal point of population issues - ageing, migration, urbanization, and the environment. She monitors donor assistance and financial resource flows mobilized by developing countries for population activities and reports on progress towards achieving the financial targets agreed upon at the International Conference on Population and Development.
In a recent interview, Ms. Pawliczko discussed UNFPA’s work on migration, the status of the follow-up to the 2006 High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development:
1. What aspects of international migration come within UNFPA’s mandate?
International migration has important implications for demographic dynamics and thus for the core mandate of UNFPA. The Fund’s work in this area is guided by the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action which devoted a full chapter to international migration, stressing the need for a more comprehensive approach to migration management and policy development by States and other concerned actors.
Among issues of particular concern to UNFPA are demographic implications of migratory movements; the impact of migration flows on the people left behind and on local economies; the challenges of transit migration; the availability and functioning of support systems for migrants in both sending and receiving countries; migration and the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS; the effect of migration on the environment; the adjustment of migrants in receiving countries; the provision of basic social services, including reproductive health services, in areas of destination; protection of the human rights of migrants; reintegration of migrants who return to their countries of origin; and combating human trafficking and smuggling, especially of women and young girls.
UNFPA seeks to provide directed policy, advocacy and technical support at critical policy, programming and monitoring levels to ensure that international migration is recognized as an important factor in development. The Fund seeks to facilitate cooperation and coordination among governments, the United Nations system, NGOs, civil society and other concerned stakeholders to ensure that migration policies are based on shared understandings and principles, recognizing the shared responsibilities and interests of origin, transit and destination countries and the inherent basic human rights of migrants.
2. What do you think were the most important outcomes of the 2006 High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development?
The most important outcomes of the 2006 High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development were an affirmation that international migration is a growing phenomenon that could no longer be addressed at the national level alone; the acknowledgment that migration could be a positive force for development if well channeled and supported by appropriate policies; and the call for continued dialogue, including the establishment of a Global Forum on Migration and Development, where Member States can come together in an informal and voluntary setting to engage in non-binding consultations and to find ways of improving cooperation. The HLD was especially significant in that it was the first meeting of its kind to bring together the world’s governments to discuss the many challenges and benefits of international migration. It enjoyed unprecedented high-level of attendance and generated tremendous attention to migration issues. The HLD underscored the important role that properly managed movements across borders play in the development of countries of origin and destination. It demonstrated the strong commitment of Member States, the UN system, NGOs and civil society to examine the relationship between international migration and development. The HLD also pointed to the need for collaboration and cooperation to promote the orderly flow of migration. Most importantly, Member States agreed that the momentum generated by the HLD must continue.
3. What have been the main action steps taken to follow-up the HLD on Migration and Development within the UN system? What are the biggest remaining challenges?
The HLD was not the culmination but just the beginning of UN collaboration and cooperation in the area of international migration. Among the main action steps taken to follow-up the HLD on Migration and Development within the UN system was the establishment of the Member State-led Global Forum on Migration and Development and a reinvigoration of the inter-agency Global Migration Group (GMG). In fact, the GMG has since expanded to include 14 members, including 13 UN agencies and IOM. Its work is increasingly focused on coordinating activities, sharing information and developing synergies. As current Chair of the Global Migration Group, UNFPA is coordinating the GMG’s input to the Global Forum on Migration and Development – a consolidated background paper addressing several important issues around the overall theme of migration and human rights. The paper is especially timely and useful since it comes at a time when the UN is commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Fifth Coordination Meeting on International Migration convened by the UN Population Division in November 2006 discussed the many follow-up activities of individual agencies in light of the HLD. At that meeting, agency after agency described action taken to ensure effective follow-up to the HLD.
The biggest remaining challenges - the way forward - is for all stakeholders to understand the dynamics, the scope, the potential and the implications of migration. We need to strengthen cooperation and collaboration and we need to share experiences. We must work together towards formulating policies and implementing programmes that respect both the sovereignty of States and the human rights of migrants. We must try to turn brain drain into brain circulation and, eventually, brain gain. We must integrate gender into migration policies and address the special needs of female migrants. We need to understand what happens to families and communities left behind. We must work together to curb trafficking and bring traffickers to justice. In short, we must work together to ensure that we maximize the benefits and minimize the costs of migration to countries of origin and destination as well as to the migrants themselves. And we need reliable data on migration to inform policy and decision-making in this area.
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