Creation Of UN Migration Body Pushed

MANILA, Philippines -- To champion the rights of migrant workers, the United Nations must create a permanent office on global migration, various non-government organizations in the Second Global Forum on Migration and Development said Tuesday.

In a manifesto of concern, at least 20 NGOs from around the world said the new UN body would have the mandate "to initiate programs and keep track of efforts to protect the rights and interests of migrant workers amid rising cases of human trafficking involving women and children."

To stress the need for such a world body, the manifesto enumerated vital statistics related to migration: 1 in 35 people is an international migrant, the equivalent of this percent of the world's population; about 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year, 80 percent of them are female and half of them are minors; and around 1.2 million children are trafficked each year to render forced labor.

At the same time, the NGOs urged destination countries to enact tough anti-trafficking laws; ratify the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children; and enter into agreements with other countries to implement this and other UN and ILO (International Labor Organization) Conventions to protect the rights of migrant workers.

"We wish to lend our voices to millions of trafficked victims -- invisible, frail, and innocent hands that contribute to the world economy against their will. These victims are exploited, abused, and debased beyond belief by human traffickers, corrupt officials, and
callous employers," it read.

The signatories to the manifesto held up Canada as an example to other destination countries for maintaining a clear policy against charging placement fees on all foreign workers. Canada requires its employers to shoulder all recruitment and processing fees in behalf of foreign workers.

"We believe that looking after the rights and dignity of migrant workers must be a shared responsibility among nations, regardless if they are countries of origin or destination. Human trafficking signifies the return of human bondage in many shapes, ways, and forms robbing millions of human dignity, if not their lives," they said.

The NGOs attending the civil society days at the international forum that signed the manifesto include the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute and Visayan Forum from the Philippines, TIFA Foundation-Indonesia, Sri Lanka Anti-Narcotics Association (SLANA), Migrant Health Association in Korea-South Korea, Red Internacional De Migracion y Desarrouo-Mexico, Economic and Social Empowerment of Rural Communities-Nigeria, General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions, National Domestic Workers' Movement, Migrant Forum-India, Fundacion Etnica Integral-Dominican Republic, and Sintras-Colombia.

More are expected to sign the manifesto before the day ends.