| Coercive migration policies harm peace and security, says new ECA report on international migration and development Addis Ababa, September 8, 2006: A new report on international migration and development published by the Economic Commission for Africa, (ECA) says the elimination of coercive migration policies would enhance the contribution of migrants and their families to international development. The report, “International migration and development: Implications for Africa”, which will be released at the high level dialogue on international migration opening in New York on September 14, says: “Coercive migration policies in sending and receiving countries work against peace and securities at all levels and against the maximization of the benefits of international migration.” International migration impacts development in Africa in a wide range of ways, including loss of human capital, remittances and skills acquisition. But the goal, says the report “must be a win-win situation for all --- for migrants, their countries of origin and their destination.” African Diaspora remittances and the income multipliers they create are becoming critical resources for the sustenance strategies of receiving households and as agents of local and national development, the report says. It says in 2004, for instance, remittances to Africa amounted to $14 billion, with Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria being the largest recipients. The report describes how households that receive these “migradollars” use them in MDG-related areas, such as education, healthcare and improvement of household food security. It calls for the harmonization of international conventions with nation migration policies and the promotion of awareness on the positive contributions of migrants to sending and receiving countries. Click here for the Executive Summary in English and French |
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