A panel discussion on the Objective 19 of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) was jointly organized by Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT), Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), Cross-Regional Center for Refugees and Migrants (CCRM), and Civil Society Action Committee (CSAC), on 2nd February 2020, with the aim of enabling dialogue on ‘Create Conditions for Migrants and Diasporas to Fully Contribute to Sustainable Development in all Countries’, by bringing together various experts on labour migration and related issues.
Contributions of Diaspora Communities in the context of the Philippines
The first speaker, Ms. Usec. Astravel Pimentel-Naik, the Executive Director of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), began the discussion by stressing the deep contribution of diasporas and migrants on home country’s development.
“Diasporas always play an incredible role in a country’s development. However, with the onset of COVID-19, we must further learn to maximise their potential as they can be instrumental in reviving our country’s economies.”: Ms.Usec. Astravel Pimentel-Naik.
She further compiled the best practices of the Philippine diaspora and highlighted their assistance in the Philippine crisis. The various programs initiated by the Philippine government were also underscored ranging from web portals designed specially to facilitate diaspora engagement to simplifying the channels through which their diasporas can make donations and investments in their home country.
Ms. Pimentel-Naik pointed out that the Philippine diasporas are dependable partners of the CFO in all their philanthropic activities and help promote the rights and welfare of Philippine migrants. She also devoted a section of her talk to shed light on how the Philippines deal with undocumented migrants and how they plan to rope them in their efforts to enhance opportunities for migrants, thereby facilitating their contribution to the country.
Ms. Pimentel-Naik concluded by stating that we must remember the world diasporas have proved themselves to be the key humanitarian actors and stakeholders in a range of development schemes, and we must continue to reach out to them to sustainably develop our nations.
Gender Perspectives in Migration and Development
Ms.Jenna L. Hennebry, Associate professor at the Department of Communication Studies and School of International Policy and Governance, detailed the gender perspectives to migration that exist in the world today and explained how gender affects all aspects of migration.
“Gender responsiveness is a key guiding principle in the Global Compact for Migration and essential in achieving sustainable development. “: Ms. Jenna L. Hennebry.
Ms. Hennebry highlighted the main challenge of GCM-19 to be the lack of direct connection to gender, making the effective realisation of the GCM difficult.Ms. Hennebry stressed that no key body has been identified internationally to work around gender perspectives of migration and development and this is one arena we must look into if we want to harness diaspora contribution to development. She thus called for re-evaluating how traditional methods of governance could be contributing to enhancing the inequalities surrounding gender as compared to disrupting them. In our efforts to achieve sustainable development, we must not let our focus and emphasis dwindle from gender perspectives and make it a key point in analysing problems and strategies used to combat gaps in migration.
Ground Impact of GCM-19 with a special focus on the UK
According to Ms. Ndidi Njoku, Chair for the African Foundation of Development,
“Numerous studies showcase that well-managed migration offers significant development opportunities for both origin and receiving societies as well as migrants themselves.”: Ms.Ndidi Njoku.
Therefore, for a win-win situation to occur, all actors need to be involved, work together, and be guided by fair and mutual consideration of interests.
Ms. Njoku stated that while the GCM-19 has enabled migrants and diasporas to facilitate global support to contribute to domestic development, it does not necessarily incentivize countries of origin, transit, or destination to engage with migrants and diasporas. Hence, in this regard, GCM-19 can do more, the foremost being including migrants and diasporas more in policy engagement while also supporting their development activities.
“An inclusion of diasporas and migrants in global needs is needed.”: Ms. Ndidi Njoku.
Ms. Njoku thus highlighted various initiatives of the UK that attempt to accelerate this global need and facilitate discussions to voice migrant and diaspora perspectives from the UK on GCM-19.
She concluded by reminding that in a post-COVID-19 world, we must not only continue our efforts but also attempt to enhance them to further optimize the role of migrants and diaspora in both the home and destination country’s development.
Numerous Contributions of Diasporas to Development
Being a proud part of a diaspora community himself, Mr. Oleg Chirita, Head of Programme at the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD),elaborated the numerous contributions of diaspora to the development of host countries.
“Diasporas have come through in even contributing to the development of vaccines and other COVID-19 responses”: Mr. Oleg Chirita.
Mr. Chirita then highlighted the various initiatives of ICMPD and how they are intertwined with the GCM-19 objectives. He stressed the importance of diaspora engagement institutions and how they have rapidly come up in the last decade.Referring to a global mapping exercise that the ICMPD conducted in 2020, he stated that governments in a few countries have even created specialised institutions, networks, and policies to engage with diasporas.
The efforts made by countries across the world for their respective diasporas and the concrete activities they would like to proceed with in the future were detailed by Mr. Chirita by giving suitable examples of countries like the Philippines and Morocco who have built robust mechanisms and specialised ministries to expand diaspora engagement.
“Diaspora engagement has become a very rich area of intervention indeed. Especially in terms of institutional and policy framework as well as concrete programs that attempt to bring diaspora closer to their homelands”: Mr. Oleg Chirita.
However, despite diaspora engagement expanding, the issues surrounding the inefficient enabling environment that demotivates diasporas to donate and contribute to their homelands is a serious issue. Consequently, due to these invisible barriers, there are severe gaps in what the diaspora wishes to do and what it can actually do that must be tackled in the years to come.
Thus, the weak confidence between governments and diasporas needs to be looked into, and especially during COVID-19, it is imperative that governments address these concerns in order to facilitate a faster contribution of diasporas to sustainable development and beneficial investments in home countries.
Breaking Down Development PoliciesConcerning Migration
Talking about how governments of origin need to be more responsible in terms of development policies, Ms.Camelia Nicoleta Tigau, Coordinator, Area of Integration Studies, Centre for Research on North America, National Autonomous University of Mexico, says-
“We need to understand that diasporas contribute with or without governments. Hence, governments of origin need to get involved in the networking of diasporas.”: Ms. Camelia Nicoleta Tigau.
There is a need to recognise the innumerable benefits diasporas bring to one’s country, reach out to them effectively, address the issues that plague them while migrating, and build a durable symbiotic relationship with the community.
While stating that home countries are equally responsible as destination countries for citizens to migrate abroad, Ms. Tigau says that we must investigate and resolve the very reasons why people feel the need to migrate.
While it is a reality that many diaspora communities do not wish to get involved with the mechanisms of diaspora engagement set up by the governments of countries of origin, it is true that they still want to contribute to their home countries.
Hence, countries must bring alternative mechanisms that their diasporas trust as opposed to traditional government routes, engage with their diasporas constructively, and ‘focus not on how migrants are contributing but where they are contributing.’
GCM 19: Legal Perspectives on Policy Frameworks
Simplifying the intertwined relations between poverty and migration, Mr. Madhavan Kallath, Managing Partner at Kallath and DBI WLL explained that governments must build and enforce active mechanisms to eradicate poverty.
“Charity is only an ineffective short-term solution to poverty. Instead, there is an urgent need to develop income-generating opportunities for people in all countries.”: Mr. Madhavan Kallath.
This is important because the Annual review of SDGs 2020 has shown progress in multiple fields except for poverty reduction. In fact, according to Mr. Kallath, migrants are stuck in a vicious cycle of poverty and the pandemic has only exacerbated their situation. While diasporas have helped migrants get food, basic necessities and in some cases even aided in repatriation, the governments of countries of origin need to put in place effective mechanisms for migrant rehabilitation. Alternative mechanisms to enable migrants to laud their claims in destination countries before they return to their home countries is also an important task that needs attention.
Pulling the audience’s attention to the debt trap migrants often get stuck in, Mr. Kallath called for better awareness-raising programs both in home and host countries so that migrants are prepared for what they are entering into and can prevent being tricked by cons. In his presentation, Mr. Kallathsimplified the law, highlighted the basic rights of migrants abroad, and explained how diasporas and migrants can effectively contribute to sustainable development.
Parting Remarks
The enriching talk by the panellists invited a diverse range of questions related to GCM-19 and the urgent need to create various conditions for migrants and diasporas to fullycontribute to sustainable development in all countries. It was strongly emphasized by the panellists that though the Objective 19 has empowered migrants and diasporas, it does not cover all the issues. They agreed that greater stress on gender responsiveness and outreach with diaspora communities is needed. Furthermore, we need to empower and recognise the development contributions of diaspora communities and thereby encourage better government structures and mechanisms to facilitate diaspora engagements across the globe. Finally, Ms. Paddy Siyanga Knudsen, who was the chair of the entire session, provided valuable inputs and insights to the presenters and made the session even more outstanding.
Ujjwala Lakhanpal is a final year student of International Relations and Economics at Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar. Her areas of interest include Middle Eastern Politics, Conflict Studies, Asian geopolitics and International Migrations.Twitter Id- Ujjwala Lakhanpal @UjjwalaLp