This High-level Dialogue is taking place at an important moment in time. needed to obtain a clearer picture of the way migration and development

Transcription

1 2nd High-Level Dialogue on Migration and Development 3-4 October 2013 Austrian Statement Mr. President, Austria aligns herself with the statement delivered on behalf of the EU and her member states. This High-level Dialogue is taking place at an important moment in time. With 232 mio. international migrants, migration is one of the global megatrends of our time. At the same time, discussions on the post-2015 development agenda have triggered a new and timely interest in the interlinkages of migration and development, particularly how migration can be harnessed to achieve better'development. This relationship is multifaceted and complex, and more thorough work and analysis are needed to obtain a clearer picture of the way migration and development influence each other. This High-level Dialogue can and should provide an impetus for substantial discussions and effective follow-up meetings? leading to concrete results. Austria would particularly like to thank IOM for its contribution to the HLD. IOM's membership has been continuously growing since the first HLD in 2006 which is clear evidence of the Organisation's success. With

2 its wealth of experience, expertise and knowledge, IOM has contributed substantially to the global migration debate. As the world's leading organization in the field of migration, it is also uniquely placed to enrich this debate in the years to come. We therefore encourage relevant UN organizations, international and regional organizations as well as other stakeholders in the field of migration and development to actively cooperate with IOM. Enhancing cooperation and coordination, as well as sharing experiences will be crucial to ÿdevelop a more coherent global approach to migration and development. Allow me to mention an interesting aspect in this debate, which was highlighted by IOM in its recently presented World Migration Report on Migrant Well-Being and Development. Rather than looking at economic indicators for development, the World Migration Report places individual migrants at the centre of the debate and analyses factors influencing their well-being. Austria considers this report to be a rich source of data, which should be used in further discussions on migration and development since the improvement of the well-being of the individual constitutes one of the major objectives of development. Austria would also like to acknowledge the important role of the [GFMD!... { Kommentar[rnpl]:VielleichtbbetersterVerwendung ausschrelben.... r 1 since its inception as a platform for dialogue and for the exchange of good practices among key stakeholders.

3 Austria welcomes that one round table of this HLD is dedicated to discussing the issue of trafficking in persons: While various forms of exploitation based on deception and violence have probably always 'existed, it became an increasingly complex phenomenon in the context of increasing migration flows since the 1990s. Austria is affected by trafficking in human beings as a country of transit and destination. It is obvious that no country is able to counter human trafficking on its own. Multilateral cooperation in the fight against this crime therefore is a priority for Austria's foreign policy. Austria is a party to all international legal instruments to combat human trafficking. The human rights perspective and a multidisciplinary approach encompassing the three P's - Prevention, Protection and Prosecution - consistently guide Austria's activities at the national and at the international level. NGOs are indispensable partners, especially in the context of protection of victims and prevention. At the UN Human Rights Council, Austria has acted as co-sponsor of all relevant resolutions on trafficking in human beings and we fully support the important work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Procedures on this issue. However, without tackling the underlying causes of human trafficking such as poverty, lack of perspectives, lack of the rule of law, corruption etc. all efforts will remain a fight against symptoms. Therefore the prevention of human trafficking through fighting

4 poverty and increasing human security is a focus area in projects with partner countries of the Austrian Development Cooperation. The Austrian Development Agency, ADA, in cooperation with IOM, supports a return- and reintegration project in Moldova within the framework of the EC financed program,,supporting the implementation of the migration and development component of the EU-Moldova Mobility Partnership". Another initiative is currently ongoing in Nepal in cooperation with CARE Austria, which supports female migrants in choosing safe ways of labour migration to the Gulf States and in getting information about their rights as migrants. The project significantly contributes to combating trafficking and labour exploitation. Now allow me to turn to the issue of public perception of migrants: Last February, Austria hosted the 5t" Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in Vienna. The Conference focused on how responsible leadership can make a difference in shaping a new narrative for migration, integration and mobility in the global economy. The conclusions highlighted the need to enhance education, training and data collection. Addressing myths and misperceptions on migration is an important task. Another finding was that social inclusion or integration is not always an easy achievement but a process, which requires long and hard work and where local stakeholders have a key role. For this reason,

5 the participation of civil society in policy processes related to immigration and integration is critical. Over the recent years we have observed a considerable change in the way we think about the development-migration nexus. There is a shift from a "problem"-oriented approach to a greater recognition of the contribution of migration to poverty reduction and development. We all know that remittances constitute a significant proportion of GDP in many countries and - according to the World Bank - amounted to more than 500 billion USD in The figures for Austria - 4 billion USD of remittance flows - are also quite impressive. The Austrian Ministry of Finance supports the remittances programme of the World Bank by financing of studies and dissemination of information in the area of remittances in Europe and Central Asia. Finally, I would like to mention that the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) supports the transnational Initiative for Migration and Development (CoMiDe) which aims at enhancing coherent migration and development policies in four European countries. Its objective is to promote cooperation between development NGOs, migrant organisations and communities in Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Austria. I thank you Mr. Chair.

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