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Migrations

Casablanca meeting of SI Committee discusses role of migrations in North-South relations

27-28 March 2006


DECLARATION

Original: French

The Socialist International Committee on Migrations, meeting on 27-28 March 2006 in Casablanca, with the participation of over 40 delegates from Africa, Europe and Latin America, discussed the phenomenon of migration underlining its widespread nature, its complexity and its contribution to social and economic development, as well as to the opening up and cultural enriching of diverse communities, so allowing a positive dynamic at the heart of the globalisation process.

The Socialist International Committee, true to the fundamental values of social democracy, based on global progress, human dignity and international solidarity, remains convinced that the structural causes of the phenomenon of migration are strictly linked to the imbalances of all types that characterise the world order, that is insidious wars, a poverty which is increasing at an alarming rate, a development gap which continues to grow between North and South, repeated violations of human rights and of values of democracy and social justice.

Taking this approach, the Committee emphasises the complex nature of the phenomenon of migration and considers that dealing with it in a sustainable manner cannot be reduced to approaches based on security nor to partial and short-lasting simplistic measures.

The phenomenon of legitimate and legal migration continues to raise juridical and socio-cultural concerns which require on the part of democratic forces an intensification of their efforts towards successful integration, founded on principles of citizenship, equality of opportunities, while respecting cultural identities.

At the same time, the Committee notes that illegitimate migration profits the networks of human traffickers, exploiting the precariousness and vulnerability of millions of women and children and attacking their basic rights.

The Committee recommends accelerating the process of ratifying the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, adopted by the United Nations in 1990.

The SI Committee on Migrations has expressed its desire to actively contribute to the High-Level Dialogue on Migration and Development, due to take place on 14-15 September 2006 on the occasion of the 61st session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. The Committee considers that this commitment constitutes an appropriate moment to discuss the current state of migration around the world.

The Socialist International Committee will hold its next meeting in Moldova to discuss migratory flows from Central and Eastern Europe, then in Greece and in Turkey, in Philippines and in Guatemala, to analyse migratory phenomena in these parts of the world.

The Committee also underlined the importance of the Euro-African Conference on Migration and Development initiated by Morocco, Spain and France, which will take place in Rabat in July 2006 to implement an appropriate policy concerning migration from Maghreb and Sub Saharan countries.

A special mention was also made to the rejection of the construction of a wall on the United States-Mexico border, resulting in Law HR4437 by the US House of Representatives. To this effect, the Committee awaits with hope and optimism the results of the legislative process aimed at the legalisation of 12 million migrants in the United States.

Finally, the Committee reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing its efforts to draw up a global strategy of the social democratic movement on migration in line with the socialist vision for a fairer world based on greater solidarity and a more humane society.



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