SYMPOSIUM ON INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION IN THE AMERICAS
PARALLEL FORUM – CIVIL SOCIETY: TOWARDS NEW FORMS
OF HEMISPHERICAL COOPERATION ON MIGRATION ISSUES
San Jose, Costa Rica, September 4 – 6, 2000
BACKGROUND
The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), through the Latin American and Caribbean Demographic Centre (CELADE, Population Division), and the International Organisation for Migrations (IOM), are jointly organizing the Symposium on International Migration in the Americas, to be held in San Jose, Costa Rica, September 4 through 6, 2000. This important event is also being sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Likewise, the funding for this Symposium has been provided by the United States Government, in its capacity as coordinator responsible for carrying forth the initiative on migratory workers adopted at the Summit of the Americas.
In the framework of this meeting, organizations from the civil society have been invited to carry out a parallel forum on the topic of “CIVIL SOCIETY: TOWARDS NEW FORMS OF HEMISPHERICAL COOPERATION ON MIGRATION ISSUES.”
The Regional Network of Civil Organizations for Migration (RNCOM) --made up of civil society organizations from Central and North America, and the Dominican Republic— is in charge of coordinating, through El Productor R.L. in Costa Rica, the participation of civil society in this Symposium, and shall also organize the Parallel Forum. As a result of this meeting, the civil society organizations will draw up a statement for the Symposium, as well as a report on the activity.
THE FORUM’S OBJECTIVES
General Objective
To create a time frame for discussion and consensus on policies and actions by civil society organizations in the Hemisphere, in connection with international migration issues, with a view to preparing a common agenda that shall include an appropriate link of organizations and strategic projects.
Specific Objectives
To further a greater understanding and commitment of actions pertaining to the relationship between migration and development in the Hemisphere, especially focused on the issues of globalization, migrants’ human rights, and traffic of migrants;
To agree upon a work schedule and follow-up mechanism to help face the challenges that international migration poses to civil society organizations in the Hemisphere.
To promote a discussion amongst civil society organizations aimed at stepping up a new relationship, not merely amongst hemispherical organizations, but also with governments and multi-lateral agencies, to be able to open new paths and forms of assistance in the design and implementation of policies on international migration.
FRAMEWORK
During the first day, representatives from civil society organizations will participate as observers in the Symposium on International Migration in the Americas.
The second day, i.e., September 5th, will be dedicated to the Parallel Forum on “Civil Society: Towards New Forms of Hemispherical Cooperation on Migration Issues,” to be held in a separate conference room and with its own agenda.
On the third and last day, participants will tackle the outcome and conclusions of the Symposium and the Forum of civil society organizations. From there, all possible forms of international cooperation in the area of migration shall be considered, in order to promote progress with respect to the issues under discussion at both of these meetings.
Work Methodology for the Parallel Forum
This forum will include presentations intended to express regional views, emerging subjects, and the participation of civil society; which will be distributedamongst the participants. In addition, a round table discussion shall be carried out on the challenges facing civil society in the Hemisphere. The intention is that each subject area in the agenda must contemplate a discussion aimed at arriving at a consensus on some or all criteria expressed therein. These conclusions shall be submitted to discussion at the Symposium’s closing session with government representatives and experts.
PARTICIPANTS
Civil society representatives from the Hemisphere who are working with and for migrants, namely:
Representatives from hemispherical, subregional, and national networks from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who work on migration issues.
Representatives from domestic, subregional or hemispherical migration or community organizations.
Representatives from ecclesiastical organizations who implement actions and programs with migrants.
GENERAL AGENDA
DAY ONE: September 4th
Participation by civil society organizations as observers in the Symposium on International Migration in the Americas.
8:00 – 9:00
Registration of participants from civil society, governments, and experts
9:00 – 10:30
INAUGURAL CEREMONY
Presentations by the following speakers:
ECLAC: Mr. José A. Ocampo
IOM: Mr. Brunson McKinley
UNPF: Ms. Marisela Padrón
OAS: Mr. César Gaviria
IBD: Mr. Enrique Iglesias
President of Costa Rica, H. E. Dr. Miguel Ángel Rodríguez
COFFEE BREAK
TOPIC I: MIGRATORY TRENDS AND PATTERNS
11:00 - 13:00
i) Migratory trends and patterns in the Americas
ii) Information systems on international migration
TOPIC II: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT
14:30 – 16:30
i) The impact of globalization and regional integration models in the countries of origin and destination of migratory flows
Economic and technological changes and job markets in countries of origin and destination
COFFEE BREAK
16:45 – 18:30
The migration of skilled workers
The social impact of migration
18:30 Welcome cocktail party
20:00 Presentation of civil society representatives
DAY TWO: September 5th
PARALLEL FORUM: ¨CIVIL SOCIETY: TOWARDS NEW FORMS OF HEMISPHERIC COOPERATION ONMIGRATION ISSUES¨
THE FORUM’S AGENDA
MORNING
8:00 – 8.30 Inaugural speech given by representative of El Productor R.L. welcoming participants
TOPIC I: REGIONAL VIEWS, EMERGING TOPICS, AND THE PARTICIPATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY
FIRST SESSION
8:30 – 9:30 - Central America
- The Caribbean
- North America
9:30 – 10:15 Discussion
10:15 –10:30 COFFEE BREAK
SECOND SESSION
10:30 – 11:10 - Southern Cone
- Andean Community
11:10 – 11:40 Discussion
11:40 – 12:15 Summary and conclusions
** The names of the speakers shall be confirmed this coming month.
12:15 – 1:30 FREE TIME FOR LUNCH
AFTERNOON
1:30 –1:50
TOPIC II: PARTICIPATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN MECHANISMS FOR EFFECTIVE AND FULL PROTECTION OF MIGRANTS’ HUMAN RIGHTS
Speaker: Ms. Gabriela Rodríguez, UN Special Rapporteur on Migrants’ Human Rights
1:50 – 2:50
TOPIC III: ROUND TABLE MEETING: ¨THE CHALLENGES FACING CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, CONSOLIDATION OF REGIONAL NETWORKS, AND DRAWING UP OF A COMMON AGENDA
The names of the moderator and panelists shall be confirmed in the weeks to follow. The presentation of four panelists is planned.
2:50 – 3:05 COFFEE BREAK
3:05 – 4:40 General discussion and conclusions on Topics II and III
4:40Appointment of a group of representatives for drawing up the conclusions and narratives on the forum.
Rapporteurs for Topics I, II, and III.
DAY THREE: September 6th
MEETING OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY, AND EXPERTS
8:30 – 10:30
Discussion panel on the outcome and conclusions of the Symposium and the Forum of civil society organizations.
PART I
General discussion
COFFEE BREAK
10:45 – 12:45
PART II
General discussion
CLOSING SESSION
Dr. Elizabeth Odio, Second Vice-President of Costa Rica
COCKTAIL
Note: Simultaneous interpretation into English and Spanish will be available.