Recognizing the crucial role of the media in examining and shedding light on both the human rights abuses migrants are suffering around the world, but also the important contributions of migrants and diaspora to development and poverty-reduction, we warmly extend this invitation to media representatives to attend the 2014 Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) Civil Society Days, taking place on 12 – 13 May in Stockholm, Sweden. In one of the largest events of its kind, the GFMD Civil Society Program will bring together more than 220 global civil society leaders, representing migrant-led and diaspora organizations, human rights and development NGOs, trade unions, academia and the private sector. Please see the draft agenda here.
Here are pieces of an amazing, under-told story in migration:
- Migrants send home to developing countries just under half a trillion US dollars in earnings each year
- This is more than three times the amount of official development assistance
- The money fights poverty and supports development directly, mostly one household at a time
- Migrants further spend some US 1.5 trillion dollars, in their new countries each year
- Migrants and diaspora are also employers and entrepreneurs: according to the Financial Times, in the United Kingdom alone, migrants have started one in seven businesses—500,000 businesses—creating 14% of British jobs
- It is often the mayors and other local authorities who see this most clearly, in countries where migrants live, as well as their countries of origin
Governments around the world, the United Nations and civil society are looking very closely at these numbers in creating a new set of Millennium Development Goals to combat poverty, when the current set of eight “MDGs” expire in 2015. Together for the first time with a number of mayors and other local authorities, they are gathering in Stockholm at the GFMD, to discuss these realities as well as the darker side of dangerous and deadly migration journeys, needy labour markets but closed borders, abuses of migrants in recruitment processes and workplaces of all kinds (including domestic work), and rising xenophobia and xenoviolence.
The World Bank records of remittances per country are astounding, beginning with the realization that they are, in fact, in the billions, not millions: $70 billion of migrant remittances to India in 2013; $60 billion to China, and over $20 billion each to the Philippines, Mexico and Nigeria.
Much of the money goes to overcome poverty: for food, healthcare, housing, education, skills-building and job-support of family members back home. These are classic development investments—but this time it is not government money from rich countries: the money is personal and family earnings, coming from one hard working migrant and household at a time.
There is an almost endless number of stories stemming from the GFMD. We are happy to facilitate your interviews and help with information-gathering.
To join us at the event, please take the following steps.
1. Fill in the accreditation form for the GFMD Civil Society Days, 12 – 13 May 2014, before Friday, April 25. The accreditation form is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/accreditationmedia
2. (if applicable) secure your Schengen visa to enter Sweden.
You might need a Schengen visa to visit Sweden. It is strongly recommended that you start your visa application process today. Generally you will need a passport, sufficient funding and an individual medical travel insurance.
Further information is at: http://www.swedenabroad.com/. If you need any documentation to support your visa application please let us know at: contact@gfmdcivilsociety.org.
3. Make your travel and lodging arrangements.
An overview of hotels, special rates and contact information is available at: https://gfmdcivilsociety.org/general-information/
4. Accreditation to the GFMD Government Summit 14 – 16 May
An additional step is needed if you would like to take part in the GFMD Government Days, taking place on 15-16 May. A Common Space with both civil society and governments will be organized at the same venue on 14 May. More information is available information here.
If you have any questions or we can be of further help, please contact us at contact@gfmdcivilsociety.org. You will receive an answer regarding your accreditation by Wednesday, April 30.
We are looking forward to welcoming and working with you at the GFMD in Sweden in May!