Voices of Youth at the Civil Society Day of the GFMD

Ghana was represented at the recently concluded Civil Society Day of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) in Manila, Philippines by youth delegate Michael Boampong from Young People We Care, which is a youth led organization that works to inspire youth to become involved in issues that affect them.

Addressing international migration concerns has undoubtedly become a pressing issue in recent times, not only for governments but also for a broad range of society actors in both northern and southern countries/states.

From 27th to 28th October, 230 Civil Society actors including migrant associations, migrants rights NGOs, human rights NGOs, development organizations, trade unions and workers organizations, women’s organizations, faith based organizations, peasant organizations and social movements met in the Philippines to have discussions under the general theme of “protecting and empowering migrants for development”. The meeting also focused on a review of best practices in protecting migrants’ rights during all stages of the migration process; ways of maximizing the contributions of the diaspora to the development of countries of origin through remittances; investments and how to reduce irregular migration; and the need for improved data to support policy formulation.

From September 14 to October 11, prior to the GFMD, YPWC worked with support from UNICEF Voices of Youth, Global Youth Action Network, Migrants Rights International and TakingITGlobal for the creation and publication of some key youth statements for the Global Forum on Migration and Development in the Philippines.

Key findings from the e-consultation on youth migration reveal that young people represent a vulnerable group subject to a multitude of consequences of underdevelopment. They can also play an important role in the development of their country and have a positive influence on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals if adequate resources are made available to them. Additionally it was identified that the attitude of the government and society can be totally dissociating as in some regions families strive to send at least one child abroad. This places additional pressure on young people to migrate because of the economical or educational reasons that could not be adequately provided in the country of origin.

After a careful analysis of the issues surrounding the migration of youths across the world, Young People We Care (YPWC) concluded the following recommendations:

1. Governments should implement youth development policies that encourage youths to stay and engage themselves in positive activities that can contribute to development of their country.
2. Governments should work on the migration agenda and strengthen ties with their young citizens abroad, promoting their involvement in the transfer of technological know-how and investments.

As a signatory of the Joint Civil Society Declaration on Migration, Development and Human Rights that was submitted by Migrant Rights International to the GFMD, YPWC supports the right to participation of migrants and all human beings in policy making. As Ghana is developing its migration policy we call on all stakeholders to ensure the genuine and meaningful participation of migrants themselves and other stakeholders. There should be consideration for policies that ensure freedom of mobility and the protection and the empowerment of migrants for both south-north and south-south migration.

We also encourage the government to work under the general principle of global partnership for development to address the root causes of irregular migration within a human rights framework.

We welcome the recommendation of Civil Society Organization to governments to support initiatives intended to strengthen data tools that capture emerging but vulnerable constitutes of migrants like children, youth and women.

The youth from Young People We Care believe that by taking a holistic approach, it should be possible to formulate migration and development policies that are interlinked and that reinforce each other. This would involve policy and coordination to ensure coherence at all levels. The concept of youth participation is more crucial at all levels and can be more meaningfully realized in structures where youth can be more effectively involved not just in the implementation or consultation on the facets of youth migration, but also in significant decision-making capacities. Youth are the largest untapped resources that have much potential just waiting to be unleashed. Programs like the Youth in Migration and Development Project of YPWC have demonstrated the capability of young people.