Intra-regional consultations on migration ends

The three-day joint annual forum for intra-regional consultations of Africa Regional framework on migration, has ended.

The member countries were called upon to step up efforts to provide comprehensive and balanced approach to address migration challenges.

The forum which brought together African governments officials from ministries and institutions aimed to enhance capacities of the Africa Regional Frameworks on Migration and promote inter-state dialogue and intra and inter regional cooperation to achieve effective and well balanced migration management policies.

The forum also provided a platform for an all-inclusive, open, balanced and comprehensive conversation on migration issues to ensure a policy coherence at national, regional and continental level.

Mr Ovais Sarmad, Chief of Staff, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said member countries shared information on current migration trends, patterns and dynamics and reliable migration data at the national, regional and continental level in order to find lasting solutions to migration issues.

He noted that initiative at various levels have been undertaken to promote safe and legal avenues for intra-regional mobility.

Mr Sarmad said the forum discussed the joint labour migration programme in 2015 which proposes key areas of focus including international labour standards, free circulation regimes tripartite policy dialogue and labour migration data.

“The meeting review the study of the protocols on free movement of persons and the review of the African Common Position on Migration and Development towards the Africa-European Union Summit on migration”, he added.

He said in the absence of sufficient, accessible, safe and legal migration channels, irregular migration and the demand for smugglers would continue.

Mr Leslie Kojo Christian, Chief Director at the Ministry of Foreign and Affairs and Regional Integration commended member countries for participation in the programme, adding that the recommendations made would be implemented to address migration problems.

He explained that the Joint Intra-Regional Consultations of Africa Regional Frameworks on Migration and Regional Consultative Processes is a joint initiative of the African Union Commission, the IOM, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, in collaboration with the Swiss Government.