Launch of the MICIC Initiative “Guidelines to Protect Migrants in Countries Experiencing Conflict or Natural Disaster”

Launch of the MICIC Initiative

“Guidelines to Protect Migrants in Countries Experiencing Conflict or Natural Disaster”

Remarks by Ms. Carla Mucavi

Director of the FAO Liaison Office to the United Nations

15 June 2106, 10am, ECOSOC Chamber, UNHQ, New York

 

Thank you for giving the floor.

 

I would like to thank the Philippines and United States for their leadership in the MICIC Initiative. It is an important contribution to the global architecture on migration, supporting our responses as a global community that acts to address the root causes of distress migration; and support and protect migrants in countries of transit and facilitate their integration in countries of destination. Migration can be a driving force for development in countries of origin, transit and destination.

 

But that is not always the case. Many people are forced to leave their homes because of conflict, economic distress, natural disasters and climate change. Many lose their lives along unsafe routes. Others find themselves in situations of vulnerability in their temporary or final destinations.

 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) welcomes the MICIC Initiative and the launch of the “Guidelines to protect migrants in countries experiencing conflict or natural disasters’’.

 

FAO also subscribes to the principles proposed by the guidelines, many of which already guide our work. In particular, FAO believes that:

 

First, we need to save lives and save livelihoods, key for the resilience and self-sufficiency of migrants.

Second, we need pro-active, innovative and multi-stakeholder responses to prepare for and respond to the needs of migrants in countries experiencing conflicts or natural disasters.

Second, we need to learn from our past actions to improve our interventions. Improved and disaggregated data is needed to better understand the root causes of migration, assess the vulnerabilities of migrants, and harness their contributions to communities of origin and host communities.

Third, migrants, including internal migrants, must be included in preparedness and response mechanisms and in existing developmental frameworks. It is also important to consider seasonal migration, such as exists in agriculture.

And, fourth, migrants need to be recognised as resilient and creative actors with positive contributions to give to host states and states of origin. Likewise, they have potential to contribute to monitoring the impact of crises, collecting data and supporting inclusive responses.

 

Most migrants come from rural areas and they can contribute to enhance food security and resilient agricultural livelihoods in their host communities. They must be a partner in increasing the resilience of communities, rebuilding the social fabric and promoting peaceful solutions.

 

To end, let me once again welcome the MICIC Initiative and thank you for these guidelines. We look forward to continuing to work with all partners to make migration an act of choice and not desperation.

 

Thank you for your attention.