The International Catholic Migration Commission
serves and protects uprooted people: refugees, internally
displaced persons and migrants, regardless of faith, ethnicity or nationality.
serves and protects uprooted people: refugees, internally
displaced persons and migrants, regardless of faith, ethnicity or nationality.
The Caribbean Caribbean governments address needs of children affected by migration  
The Caribbean
GUYANA, 11 September 2009 (IOM<)—The International Organization for Migration this week brought together nine Caribbean countries in Georgetown, Guyana to develop a framework and draft recommendations to address the needs of children affected by migration in the region. Child protection specialists and other officials from Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states (Antigua, Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago), the CARICOM Secretariat, IOM and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) exchanged practical experiences, and identified national strengths and weaknesses. The group's effort culminated into a comprehensive framework and a set of recommendations for children affected by migration. This addressed issues of data collection and dissemination, policy and procedures, and the provision of basic services in education, social welfare and health. The framework and recommendations, which delegates described as "appropriate and proactive," will be submitted to CARICOM's Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) for consideration at a meeting later this year. The framework and recommendations are based on three general categories:
Dr. Edward Greene, CARICOM's Assistant Secretary General for Human and Social Development, said that the topic was a new one that CARICOM member states "are only beginning to explore, despite the region's traditionally strong intra- and extra-regional migration flows." "But the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which all CARICOM member states have ratified, states that children are considered children, before they are considered migrants," he noted. The Guyana meeting was funded by the US State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM). Over the past five years, IOM and its Caribbean partners have been active in the fight against human trafficking. Domestic servitude, sexual slavery and forced labour have all been identified as primary trends. IOM efforts have focused on regional collaboration and information sharing, capacity building and training, direct assistance to victims of trafficking and legislative initiatives.
For more information, please contact: Chissey Mueller<, IOM Washington DC Tel: +1 202 862 1826 Ext. 236 |
 
|
