GENEVA (ICMC), 5 July, 2013 – Governance of migration will be more effective in contributing to human security and development if it focuses on applying international human-rights instruments, the International Catholic Migration Commission said before the fourth International Forum on Migration and Peace in New York City on 20-21 June.

Human rights established within framework of the United Nations are first and foremost human and universal in nature, and they are also tools to facilitate practice and collaboration between civil society and governments, according to ICMC.

“Improved coordination, and complementarity, of institutions and actors involved in migration at international, national and also local levels will enhance the protection of vulnerable migrants, including large numbers of domestic workers, farm and factory workers, children and migrant victims of violence and trauma in transit,” noted ICMC’s head of policy John Bingham in a panel.

At the request of civil society networks active in migration and development worldwide and the invitation of the office of the President of the UN General Assembly, ICMC is serving as coordinator of global civil society activities for the upcoming UN High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development (HLD) to be held in New York in October.

The International Forum on Migration and Peace was organized by the Scalabrini International Migration Network and brought together government, UN and non-governmental organizations officials involved in international human migration matters, as well as members of the private sector.

SIMN is an umbrella organization established in 2005 by the Congregation of the Missionaries of Saint Charles, Scalabrinians, with more than 250 entities involved in various activities and services to assist people on the move around the world.

Click here< to read the full statement by John K. Bingham, Head of Policy, delivered on 20-21 June in New York at the IV International Forum on Migration and Peace, "Choosing Alternatives to Chaos: Toward Better International Governance of Migration... and Peace<".

-- by Cathy Nguyen, John Bingham and Cécile Van de Voorde/lb

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