UNDP, INSTRAW, ILO and IOM convened a Global Consultation on Migration, Remittances and Development: responding to the global economic crisis from a gender perspective from 29 June to 1 July 2009 in Geneva. The overall objective was to share knowledge, generate dialogue and make concrete recommendations for on how to respond to the ongoing economic and financial crisis on issues around gender equality, international migration and remittances. The Global Consultation was attended by over 45 participants representing governments, international organizations, academia and civil society.
Throughout the two and a half-day Consultation, participants reiterated that migrants can contribute to social and economic development in their countries of origin and that maximizing the potential of remittances requires building partnerships between multiple stakeholders, including governments in countries and communities of origin and destination, migrant women and men, remittance recipients, private sector, banking sector and civil society. Participants further stressed that specific measures should be taken by both countries of origin and destination to mitigate the likely impact of the economic crisis on the living and employment conditions of migrants and their families, and on the protection of their fundamental human and labour rights.
Assane Diop, Executive Director, Social Protection Sector, ILO
 The contribution of migrant workers is world-wide recognised. Migrant workers make 15 % of all international migrants of whom 50 % are women. More attention must be placed on understanding the contribution of women migrant workers to development. There is a growing recognition for the nexus migration – development, with an emphasis on remittances. Remittances are more important than the foreign direct investment – making them essential for origin countries. There appear differences between men and women in the spending of remittances. Women appear to invest more in the health and education of their children. To assure equality between women and men international labour migrants, the ILO promotes opportunities for equal work, decent work for all, and to fight informal economies.
 Ms Ndiaye welcomes a panel bringing together representatives from international organizations, NGOs, and academia in the consultations towards concrete recommendations. Women are underrepresented in international statistics. It is important to recognize their role in international migration. Women are more active, they send home smaller amounts of money, but more regularly and often and their remittances have a direct impact on the well-being of their children. Because women work predominantly in domestic work and health, it is not yet clear how they will be impacted by the financial crisis. It is sure that they will be affected by xenophobia and discrimination. The UN agencies and governments have to define gender sensitive programmes to respond to the crisis.
The IOM considers that the financial crisis is an opportunity to promote migrants’ rights and is undertaking the following activities:
- Monitor the impact of the crisis: receive information from their more than 400 field offices.
- Provide policy recommendations to governments
- Rise awareness of the gender aspects
Winnie Byanyiama, Director, UNDP Gender Team
The UNDP and INSTRAW have been involved in a project in the developing countries supported by the Japanese government. The question at the base of the project was “how to respond to the Global Economic Crisis from migrant workers’ perspective, with a focus on gender and remittances?”
The current crisis threatens to destroy the achievements of the millennium goals and will affect large groups of people who will be pushed into poverty in 2009. Because of the bias that men are the bread-winners, women’s jobs are the first to be cut down. Also, the foreign direct investment is decreasing.
An interesting observation is that the money which were mobilised to rescue businesses in the developed countries in the context of the financial crisis is much higher than the money received by developing countries over the past 49 years.
Yasushi Takase, Minister, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations and Other International Organizations
Mr Takase welcomes the focus on the gender issue and refers to the fact that the Japanese government supports innovative projects to promote women’s empowerment.
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