Asia-Pacific development arm of UN signs cooperation deal on migration

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) today signed an agreement to bolster its cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on issues concerning the cross-border movement of people searching for better opportunities or greater human security.

Of the 190 million international migrants in the world, the Asia-Pacific region accounts for one-third – or 58 million – of them.

“Member States of [UNESCAP] increasingly view international migration as an emerging issue with ramifications on the broader development agenda,” said Kim Hak-Su, the agency’s Executive Secretary.

In 2004, UNESCAP’s member countries received approximately $85 billion in remittances, which have become crucial for the region’s economy by contributing to the sustaining and local and national economies.

“Migration management challenges such as human trafficking remain and need to be curbed through concerted and coordinated action,” said Irena Vojackova-Sollorano, IOM’s Regional Representative for South-East Asia.

It is hoped that closer cooperation between the two organizations will allow common socio-economic development goals – such as boosting migrants’ livelihoods and reducing poverty through the positive contributions of international migration – to be implemented more effectively.