High-Level Panel Meeting On Migration Set for Geneva

3 May 2018

Addis Ababa — Members of the High-Level Panel on Migration in Africa (HLPM) headed by former Liberian President - Ellen Johnson Sirleaf - will converge in Geneva from 28 to 29 May to advance their strategies on harnessing migration for African development in the context of international cooperation.

The meeting is expected to provide inputs and comments to facilitate the finalization of a report by the Panel, which is aimed at raising awareness on migration issues, opportunities and challenges in Africa as well as affirming Africa's commitment to global objectives and values on migration.

Thokozile Ruzvidzo, who heads the Social Development Policy Division at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), explained that the Panel's work is expected to enhance the potential of African migration by "making migration policies development-sensitive and development policies migration-sensitive."

"The panel is expected to come up with actionable commitments that will lead to the successful implementation of its work plan and engagement with continental and global processes on international migration," added Ms.Ruzvidzo.

HLPM was launched on 6 June 2017 and is made up of 16 eminent members, including representatives of governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society - from different regions of the world.

The Panel works in consultation with relevant constituencies at national, regional and global levels to come up with recommendations on how to build and sustain broad political consensus on an implementable international migration development agenda, taking into account the particular challenges of countries in conflict and post-conflict situations.

The HLPM report will be submitted to the African Union Heads of State and Government summit in July 2018.

The meeting will be attended by all HLPM members as well as the Technical Committee and secretariat involved in the implementation and monitoring of the Panel's work plan. Partners in Europe including the International Organization on Migration (IOM) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) will also be represented at the meeting.

The event will take place at the IOM headquarters in Geneva.

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.