“There is tremendous value in the fact that the Global Forum on Migration and Development allows civil society and governments from all over the world to gather with full attention on matters of international migration and its many links with development”, notes ICMC Head of Policy, John Bingham. “This new website, found at www.gfmdcivilsociety.org<, provides broad information about the GFMD, and a central coordination point for Civil Society actors wishing to be involved”.

As chair of the 2011 Global Forum, the Swiss Government has appointed ICMC to coordinate GFMD civil society activities this year. The Civil Society Program will focus on Labour Migration, Development and the Protection of Migrants and their Families in the context of Work, with particular focus on matters such as: protecting migrant workers and their families (including migrant domestic workers and family unity); addressing challenges of irregular migration; restructuring labour mobility (including temporary and circular migration and labour matching mechanisms); and expanding choices and opportunities in labour migration, beginning with the development of jobs at home and the right to not migrate.

“In each of the four annual Global Forum meetings held thus far—in Belgium, the Philippines, Greece and Mexico—representatives from non-government organizations, labour groups, migrant and diaspora associations, academia and the private sector from every region in the world have gathered to share perspectives and practices, build solutions and recommendations, and forge partnerships with other civil society actors, international organizations and governments”, notes Bingham.

This year’s GFMD will be held in Geneva, Switzerland. The civil society meeting, commonly known as the Civil Society Days (CSD), will take place from 29-30 November, while the government meeting will take place from 1-2 December. A formal common space bringing civil society and states together is scheduled for the morning of December 1st.

Participation in the CSD is open to 150-200 delegates representing various sectors of civil society, including human rights, development, labour, diaspora and migrant organizations, academia and the private sector, however application is required by September 13. As in prior years, the final selection process takes into consideration sectoral, geographic and gender diversity, as well as relevant experience and knowledge of migration and development issues. Applicants can expect to receive word on the success of their application by the beginning of October 2011.

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For more information and to apply on-line, go to: www.gfmdcivilsociety.org< or contact:

Andrés MORALES
Program Officer
Global Forum on Migration and Development Civil Society Program 2011
E: contact@gfmdcivilsociety.org
<T: +41 22 919 10 26<