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Mixed Migration Hub Trend Bulletin, July 2017

Attachments

Monthly trend report

Covering mixed migration to, through & from NORTH AFRICA

About: MHub is the regional knowledge hub and secretariat for the North Africa Mixed Migration Task Force, comprising of DRC, IOM, OHCHR, RMMS, Save the Children, UNHCR, UNICEF and UNODC. It promotes a human rights-based approach to ensure the protection of people moving in mixed and complex flows to, through and from North Africa.

Scope: This bulletin covers mixed migration trends in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia, Greece and Italy.

Terminology: Throughout this bulletin the terms migrant, refugee and asylum seeker are used together to cover all those comprising mixed migration flows. If the original source specifies a particular category, the relevant term will be used.

Sources: Data is drawn from a wide variety of sources, including government, civil society and media.

REGIONAL

GCM consultations in New York

• The latest consultations on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) were convened on 24 and 25 July in New York. The thematic focus of the latest session was on the contribution of migrants and diaspora communities to sustainable development. The consultation, the fourth of six to be held this year, was attended by Member-State representatives, UN agencies and civil society as well as leaders of diaspora and migrant communities. Speaking at the session, UN Special Representative for Migration, Louise Arbor, highlighted that, despite the undeniable positive contributions of migrants, negative public perceptions tend to dominate the public sphere and negatively affect policy. Attention was directed towards the nearly $500 billion sent to countries of origin in the form of remittances, boosting strides towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing countries. The session further covered migrant contributions towards the labour markets and economies of countries of destination.

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

• On occasion of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (July 30), IOM Director General William Lacy Swing and UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov released statements drawing attention to the criminal networks that some of the world’s most vulnerable fall prey to. Fedotov highlighted the role conflicts play in placing migrants, refugees and asylum seekers at a heightened risk of trafficking and exploitation. He stated, “As evidence grows of conflict’s ability to nourish crime, the international community is increasingly recognizing the need to confront people’s vulnerability to trafficking during conflicts.” He further drew attention to the first UN security resolution to tackle the problem passed last year. On his part, Swing announced the upcoming launch of the Counter-Trafficking Data Collaborative, the first open access data platform on trafficking. He ended his statement with, “The fight against trafficking in persons requires us to strive for answers to our many questions. It requires us to better respond, with shared data, knowledge, and tools, and it requires us to respond together.”

Foreign affairs ministers from EU and African countries meet to discuss migration management

• EU and African foreign affairs ministers met in Rome on July 6 for a conference titled “A Shared Responsibility for a Common Goal: Solidarity and Security”, aimed at enhancing and deepening areas of cooperation between the EU and African countries of transit. Participants agreed that greater efforts are needed to provide avenues for regular migration, ease the process of voluntary returns and boost border control. IOM Director General William Lacy Swing who was also in attendance commented “There is no emergency, but a crisis of solidarity. If we face it, we could manage the problem.” Highlighting the urgent need for a shared sense of responsibility, Swing insisted that there must be a commitment to solidarity and cooperation by all EU member states.

COMESA launches Regional Consultative Process on migration

• COMESA member states initiated the first meeting for regional migration dialogue in Lusaka on July 28, acknowledging that the integration of economies within the regional block would have to be accompanied by greater human mobility. Assistant Secretary General of COMESA Dr Kipyego Cheluget called upon Member States to sign and ratify the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Services, Labour and Right of Establishment. Speaking at the opening, Zambian Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyong urged states to dispel fears and misconceptions surrounding migration and the free movement of people within the region. He stated, “Most people migrate in order to improve the wellbeing of their families and communities around them.” He added that security risks, such as transnational crime, could be addressed through the establishment of empirically-driven security institutions. He further said, “We need to identify leaders in our region who can take up the issue of free movement and run with it.”

Anti-migrant boat enters the Mediterranean

• A boat chartered by a far-right, anti-immigrant group has entered the Mediterranean to monitor rescue operations and, it claims, reveal collusion between humanitarian groups and people smugglers. NGOs and rights organizations have expressed grave concerns that the boat’s activities could interfere with rescue operations in contravention with international maritime law. The ship was held up in Cyprus where it was discovered that 21 South Asians without requisite documents were aboard. The ship was recently refused permit to dock in the Sicilian port of Catania.

Relocation and Resettlement

• As of 24 July, 24,600 have been relocated from Greece and Italy to other EU countries under the September 2015 scheme. There was a slight decrease of pace with relocations from Greece and Italy in the month of July with relocations dropping to around 1,200 and 600 respectively (as compared with 2,000 and 1,000 during the previous month). On 26 July the European Commission proceeded to the second stage of the infringement case against Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland by sending reasoned opinions for non-compliance with their legal obligation on relocations to said member states. The three States have one month to respond and if no such response is received the commission may move ahead with formal procedures and refer the case to the EU Court of Justice.

• Since 9 June, 760 people have been resettled under the EU-Turkey scheme and while the majority of resettlements are taking place from Turkey, some are also being undertaken from Lebanon and Jordan. As of 24 July 17,179 people have been resettled to 22 countries and seven EU Member States and as three Associated Countries have fulfilled their pledges.