| ECA and IOM agree to collaborate in protecting the rights of African migrants 31 January2007 The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have agreed to collaborate in the protection of the human rights of African migrants and assist African countries to integrate migrants’ rights and responsibilities into national legal frameworks, according to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed recently in Addis Ababa. The two organizations will also collaborate in the fight against human trafficking and smuggling, and promote exchange programmes among the youth in Africa and the diaspora to enhance the socio-economic, political and cultural integration of Africa. They will work to tap the resources of migrants in the diaspora in support of Africa’s socio-economic development, especially through the utilization of Information and Communication Technologies, says the MoU. The two organizations will also initiate joint capacity building initiatives in support of regional and sub-regional institutions such as the African Union (AU), the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and other relevant bodies in areas of mutual interest. According to the MoU, the two organizations will also support national and regional efforts to promote gender equality and end violence against women by assisting African countries in enhancing legal protection of women, including migrant women. ECA published a 120-page report on “International Migration and Development: Implications for Africa,” last year for the High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development which took place in New York in September 2006. Among other recommendations, the report calls for innovative win-win migration laws, stating that “Coercive policies in both sending and receiving countries work against peace and security at all levels.” :: MoU |
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