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Ph:DR: 8th Conference of the PAN AFRICAN FORUM ON MIGRATION (PAFoM)
The free movement of people across borders is an opportunity to boost intra-African trade and regional integration, a review of a regional pact on migration in Gaborone, Botswana, has found, according to an ECA publication.
A side event organized by the Economic Commission for Africa, the African Union Commission and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) during the 8th PAN AFRICAN MIGRATION FORUM (PAFoM) conference showed how migration Regular migration could help boost intra-African trade and promote regional migration.
The meeting, on the theme “Strengthening free movement and trade linkage in the AfCFTA: maximizing the benefits of migration, labor migration for development”, brought together key stakeholders, champion countries of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and youth representatives in Africa. .
The meeting noted that the implementation of the GCM will help promote free movement and mobility of labor, which in turn would lead to sustained and inclusive economic growth and productive employment for all. It will also contribute to the achievement of the SDGs relating to the reduction of inequalities and the eradication of extreme poverty.
Stakeholders were briefed on the second African regional review on the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), which will take place in October 2024.
The GCM regional review is a Member State-led process with multiple formats and consistent approaches within and across regions. Prior to the Continental Review Meeting, a series of multi-stakeholder consultations and engagements will be organized by ECA, in collaboration with partners AUC and IOM. The next GCM review in Africa will focus on sub-regional GCM implementation initiatives and highlight activities and strategies at the REC and PCR levels.
Opening the meeting, Mariama Cissé, Director of the IOM Special Liaison Office to the African Union Commission and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), reiterated that mobility and migration contribute to prosperity, stability and development of Member States.
Ms. Cisse stressed that it is extremely essential to keep women and youth at the center of policy decisions and programs, as these are mainly affected by migration. Given this, taking advantage of these opportunities requires a deliberate, strategic, collaborative and coordinated approach from all stakeholders.
Gideon Rutaremwa, Population Issues Officer at the ECA Social Policy Section, noted in a presentation that regional integration, economic growth, increased education, infrastructure expansion and urbanization will increase the capabilities and aspirations of young Africans to move to increase opportunities for themselves and their children. families. He said such migration will enable young people to gain education, skills and employment, while others will leave to join their families, flee conflict or oppression.
- Rutaremwa stressed that migration should be seen as an intrinsic and inevitable part of development rather than a “problem to be solved”.
“Given the inevitability of future increases in African migration, more and more African governments are viewing migration as an opportunity for development and regional integration, including trade integration,” Mr. Rutaremwa, emphasizing the need to move beyond the crisis caused by fear. stories that ignore more complex migratory realities.
Member States must face the realities of African migration and recognize the considerable development potential of migration without being blind to its potential downsides, Mr. Rutaremwa said.