From left to right: Mr. Felipe González Morales, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, H.E. Mr. Mohamed Bangura, the Minister of Youth Affairs of Sierra Leone, Ms. Julia Blocher, IYF President, H.E. Mr. Shahidul Haque, Foreign Secretary of the Government of Bangladesh Ms. Alexis Nadine Bautista, Programme Officer at Migrant Forum Asia, and IDM Secretariat Representative. Photo credit: Rahma SOLIMAN - International Organization for Migration © 2019.
(IYF – New York): On 28 February, IYF President Julia BLOCHER moderated a session at the International Dialogue on Migration (IDM) in New York, hosted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which focused on engaging youth as key partners in migration governance.
“Within the broader socio-political exclusion of youth, many of these factors leading to forced or even voluntary migration of youth are the same reasons why they become targets for exploitative practices, discrimination, and abuse. And, unfortunately, women and girls are disproportionately affected by many forms of violence.” Said Ms. Julia BLOCHER, President of the International Youth Federation, in her remarks. She added: “Thankfully, young people also have limitless energy and potential for resilience, self-betterment, and, if I can say so, for hope.”
In addition to the session, on “Addressing specific challenges and vulnerabilities of young people”, the IYF President focused on the challenges of climate change and migration on a side event panel on “Youth Leadership in 21st Century Migration Governance”.
In her keynote speech, The United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth Jayathma Wickramanayake said: “Young people are facing the challenges of migration and displacement at the time of intense cognitive physical and social development, young migrants unfortunately often deal with psychological stress and trauma affiliated, but they are at the same time extremely and resilient in times of crises.” She added: “I believe that we must do better, try harder to give a human face to migration, and it’s my hope that the outcome of the discussion here today will contribute to share an evidence-based counter-narrative that we can all use going forward.”
There are currently more young people in the world than ever, 1.8 billion, the largest generation in history. Of the 258 million international migrants, around 11 percent of them were below 24 years old in 2017. Young people have a key role in policy discussions, rising up worldwide for their rights and better opportunities and demanding a seat at the table in decision-making processes.
The 2019 International Dialogue for Migration is dedicated to discussing how to engage youth as a key partner in global processes on migration. The 2019 IDM responds to the calls for greater engagement with youth made by participants at IDM, and it is aligned with the United Nations Youth Strategy which recognizes the potential of the youth to advance progress in many policy areas, considering young people’s first-hand experience.
This 2019 series of the International Dialogue on Migration is fostering exchanges on all areas relevant to youth and migration, including global strategies and partnerships on youth on the move and the involvement of young people, especially youth migrants, in migration policy and decision-making processes at global, national and local level.