Escap and Escwa Regions Summary

Strengthening Dialogue to Make Migration Work for Development in the ESCAP and ESCWA Regions

28-30 June 2011

Beirut, Lebanon

Introduction

Given the importance of migration from Asia-Pacific to Western Asia, ESCAP and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) jointly organized an Interregional Workshop on “Strengthening Dialogue to Make Migration Work for Development in the ESCAP and ESCWA Regions." The workshop was organized within the framework of the United Nations Development Account project on international migration, jointly implemented by the five UN Regional Commissions and UNDESA.

Objectives

The workshop was organized around:

* Understanding the key trends of migration between ESCWA countries and ESCAP regions

* Exploring approaches towards managing migration between the countries of the regions while protecting migrants

* Assessing migration between ESCAP and ESCWA member countries from a gender perspective

* Sharing national experience and good practices related to the management of international migration and the protection of migrants.

*No specific information provided as an outcome of this workshop in relevance to youth, children, young people, or family.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations relating to migration and development:

* Governments of countries of origin should provide an enabling environment for enhanced skill acquisition, technology transfer and more productive use of remittances for development

* Reintegration of migrants and their families should be included in the national and local development plans of countries of origin

* There remains a need for more available, accessible, timely, comparable and accurate qualitative and quantitative data, and shared information on migrant inflows and outflows, migrant stocks and the experiences of migrants through the migration cycle.

Recommendations relating to the protection of migrant workers, especially female migrant workers, and...