Parallel forum meant to help global migration meet, say organizers

MANILA, Philippines -A migrant group on Wednesday said the parallel forum they are going to hold is meant to help and not jeopardize the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD).

"The parallel forum is not meant to jeopardize the process, we are actually taking part in the process," said Ellene Sana, executive director of the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA), in an interview with GMANews.TV on Wednesday.

Sana said the People's Global Action (PGA) on Migration, Development and Human Rights which will be held on the October 22 to 30 is meant to accommodate all issues that would not be discussed during the GFMD.

The GFMD is an annual international conference on migration and development issues initially organized by the United Nations, while the PGA is an alternative movement organized by the civil society coalition Philippine Working Group (PWG).

"The problem with the GFMD is its premise that migration is a global phenomenon and is here to stay," she said.

The CMA head said they should instead determine why there is mass migration.

"Why not talk about irregular migration? These things will not be discussed in the GFMD," said Sana.

Migrant Forum on Asia said that unlike the GFMD, the PGA is "an open process."

"It aims to raise awareness and raise interest about migration," said MFA Regional Coordinator William Gois on Wednesday during a conference at the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

"The GFMD, meanwhile, is very pragmatic, no ratifications and agreements will be made during the event," said Sana.

Gois also said that no government is under any obligation to be bound by whatever is talked about in the GFMD.

Moreover, Sana said the PGA will provide the venue for the meeting of many civil society groups (CSO) who will not be able to go to the GFMD.

"You need space for those who will not be accommodated by the GFMD since the space is very limiting for the CSOs alone," she said.

Sana said 230 slots have been allotted for CSOs who applied to participate in the GFMD, 30 of which were reserved for Philippine groups.

"Two hundred thirty is very small considering there are so many CSOs," said Sana.

However, she said they do not support the GFMD fully.

"We are taking part in the GFMD, but we are also critical of it," she said.

Several migrant groups have already announced their plans to hold a simultaneous picket rally along Roxas Boulevard in Manila during the GFMD to show their dismay over the international conference.

A pueblo or people's camp will also be set up in Rajah Sulayman Park in Malate, Manila by organizers of the PGA. It will have booths, exhibits, cultural, and educational events.

Meanwhile, Sana said Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos, Jr. told migrant groups that they will hold a post-GFMD meeting to discuss the gains of the event.- GMANews.TV

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