Migration is poorly managed gloablly, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said, presenting his report "Making migration work for all" to the General Assembly.
''Globally, migration remains poorly managed'', Guterres said.''The impact can be seen in the humanitarian crises affecting people on the move; and in the human rights violations suffered by those living in slavery or enduring degrading working conditions''. ''It can be seen, too, in the political impact of public perception that wrongly sees migration as out of control. The consequences include increased mistrust and policies aimed more at stopping than facilitating human movement,'' he continued.
''In my report, I call for us to focus on the overwhelming positives of migration and to use facts not prejudice as the basis for addressing its challenges. Above all, I urge a respectful discourse that places our collective humanity at the center of the debate''.
258 million estimated migrants, up 49% from 2000
The dossier recalls that migrants are globally estimated to be 258 million with a 49% increase since 2000, up from 2.8% to 3.4% of the world population. As of December 4, 2017, over the course of the year a reported 5,136 migrants died while since 2014 victims around the world have been 22,432.''The best way to end the stigma of illegality and abuse around migrants is, in fact, for governments to put in place more legal pathways for migration'', Guterres also said.
Governments that crack down on migration inflict 'self-harm'
Governments that crack down on migrants indirectly encourage illegal migration and damage their own economies, the secretary general warned.''Authorities that erect major obstacles to migration - or place severe restrictions on migrants' work opportunities - inflict needless economic self-harm, as they impose barriers to having their labour needs met in an orderly and legal fashion.''He stressed that migrants give an important contribution to international development, both through their work and by sending money back to their home countries for a total of almost 600 billion dollars last year. The fundamental challenge, he said, is to maximize benefits of this orderly and productive form of migration and end abuse and prejudice that turn life into hell for a minority of migrants.Guterres noted that when immigration laws limit the possibility for migrants to have a good and legal job there is a high risk they will choose to work illegally, increasing their exposure to exploitation.The latest estimates suggest that 23% of the 24.9 million people in employment are international migrants.The dossier stressed that the Global Compact is an opportunity not only for member states but also for the UN's system to adopt a more ambitious approach in managing migration. He stressed that all three elements in the elaboration of the Global Compact must be considered - a commitment for action, engagement and the need for the United Nations to fulfill that end.