GENEVA, 19 November 2012— Key decisions-makers gather at the Sixth Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) in Mauritius this week. For the second year in a row, ICMC has taken up a leading role in the coordination of the GFMD Civil Society Days. During these days organisations intend to share their expertise and develop concrete models to the better implementation of human rights for all migrants. This step intends to look beyond only recognizing rights and pushes for actually operationalizing human rights of migrants. In this, it is felt that governments, employers, labour unions and other social actors must work together to create more regular and safe migration channels. Operationalizing existing concepts and recognized frameworks, with concrete mechanisms will contribute to the better protection of all migrants and to their well-being.

“The growing cohesion between the various civil society actors, even when taking their multiple differences into account, is considered a valuable asset in this process and will no doubt contribute to better define the future responsibilities,” says Johan Ketelers, ICMC Secretary General. “Durable solutions will necessarily be built in shared responsibility between political decision makers and the many civil society actors already deeply involved in these processes.”

Moving forward from the GFMD towards International Migrants’ Day, December 18th and beyond, we must continue to move past acknowledging rights to achieving impact. Indeed, operationalizing the human rights of migrants is within reach. ICMC continues to support migration and development, and highlights these key areas for change:

• Organizing mechanisms of migrant workers

• Reimagining temporary migration in ways that value rights of migrants and their families

• Restoring respect for family unity in contexts of international migration

• Contributing to mechanisms of assistance and protection to migrants in crisis

• Empowering migrant diaspora and development

For over 60 years, ICMC has worked on the ground and in policy-building with and on behalf of refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants. The organization is today active in operationalizing migrant rights through, e.g., programs to support awareness of migrant workers’ rights in Indonesia, livelihoods in Pakistan, assistance and protection for domestic workers in the Middle East, and micro credit financing in the Balkans.

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