World must protect migrants' rights, learn to manage movements better, Annan says

As great numbers of people leave their homes in search of a better life for themselves and their families, the international community must step up efforts to protect the rights of these migrants and learn to manage these population movements better, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today.

"We need to maximize its many real benefits and minimize the difficulties that [migration] can cause," the Secretary-General said in a message marking the fourth International Migrants Day, which is observed on 18 December.

Mr. Annan noted that the recently launched Global Commission on International Migration - an initiative of States from both North and South - could help take international cooperation to a new level. "I hope its final report will contribute to better public understanding of migration, and help build a framework for greater cooperation among States to manage migration for the benefit of all," he said.

The Secretary-General also stressed that despite all the obstacles faced by migrants - perilous journeys, hardship in their new home countries, exploitation and abuse, and even vilification in some circles - the vast majority of them contribute greatly to their new societies, and many send back remittances that support the economies of their countries of origin.

Mr. Annan called on countries to become parties to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, which entered into force this July. The treaty, which obliges countries to respect the core human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrant workers, "is a vital part of efforts to combat exploitation of migrant workers and members of their families," he said.

Meanwhile, a new report published by the UN International Labour Organization (ILO) that focuses on the situation of migrant nurses says severe staff and skill shortages in the health systems of many countries have fostered the active recruitment of medical workers from abroad, posing a potential threat to the health systems of developing countries.

"Many developing countries find it increasingly difficult to compete for skilled human resources in the existing global market," said Dr. Stephen Bach, the author whose paper examines health worker migration not only from an employment relations and health policy perspective, but also as a global economic trend.