Admin l Friday, December 20, 2019
LAGOS, Nigeria – As the world marks 2019, International Migrants Day, JIFORM is calling on nations and the media to be at the forefront of abolishing all dichotomies against human migration.
This is with a view to promote safe and regular migration in other to encourage unhindered human movements across the globe.
According to JIFORM, Africa leaders must wake up to reality of providing opportunities for teaming youth so at to halt the trend the desperation of the youths wanting to travel to other continents through the Mediterranean sea, deserts and other dangerous cum unapproved root as a result of abject poverty in the land. “It is time to kill corruption and face real governance”, JIFORM said.
It noted that the erroneous impression that Africans dominate the number of irregular migrants across the world is false. Quoting from the United Nations data base, JIFORM said out of 272 million migrants globally in 2019 which is about 3.5% of the world’s population, 52 per cent were male while 48 per cent were female.
“More than half of all international migrants (141 million) lived in Europe and Northern America. 3. 74 per cent of all international migrants were of working age (20–64 years). The top three origins of international migrants are India (17.5 million), Mexico and China (11.8 million and 10.7 million respectively).
“Migration is as old as man. It is not a crime however this is without prejudice to right of every country and system to stem the tide of criminality at any level including all forms human trafficking.
“The positive side of migration must be highlighted with an inflow of $24.3 billion, Nigeria ranked 7th on the list of top countries with international remittances in 2018 alone. In 2019, signs are ripe that it would be more.
“We are of the view that migrants are potential economic developers and should be treated with all respects as contained in the frame work of international law and United Nations High Commission For Refugees.
JIFORM recommends the example of Nigeria through the migrant-e registration that allowed all migrants in Nigeria to register with the Nigeria Immigration Service with a view to capture their data and regularize their status instead of harsh conditions migrants are subjected to in Europe and other continents.
“The world must not sight of the fact many countries are still treating migrants as criminals by subjecting them to all forms of abuses.
JIFORM hereby charges media to drop the usage of the word “illegal” to describe migrants and completely refrain from blaming them for their actions in relation to migration.
“We endorsed the charter for Africa particularly in relation to this era of rapid globalization, human migration has evolved into a dynamic phenomenon with respect to the multitude of factors contributing to the migration of unparalleled numbers of migrants across immense geographical trajectoires.
Africa Union must reflect on the nine thematic adopted during its Executive Council Ninth Ordinary Session 25 – 29 June 2006 Banjul, in Gambia and formulate policies to implement actions on. Labor migration, Border Management, Irregular Migration, Forced Displacement, Human Rights of Migrants, Internal Migration, Migration Data, Migration and Development, and Inter-State co-operation and partnerships to develop the continent.”