[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.4″ border_style=”solid” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n
– As delivered –<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Delivered by Ambassador Kwabena Osei-Danquah, Chef de Cabinet<\/strong><\/p>\n 26 February 2019<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Thank you, Mr. Chairman<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Colleagues,<\/p>\n Friends,<\/p>\n Ladies and Gentlemen:<\/p>\n Let me begin by acknowledging the presence of His Excellency the Vice Minister for Human Mobility of Ecuador, Santiago Javier Chavez Pareja, Chair of the GFMD.<\/p>\n I am honoured to deliver these remarks today on behalf of the President of the General Assembly, Her Excellency Mar\u00eda Fernanda Espinosa Garc\u00e9s.<\/p>\n Let me begin by thanking the Population Division of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ DESA for the invitation to open this symposium on international migration and development. It comes at an important juncture.<\/p>\n Tomorrow, I will convene a one-day High-Level Debate on international migration and development, as mandated by the General Assembly. The debate will inform this year\u2019s High-Level Political Forum, which will review the various Sustainable Development Goals and targets relevant to migration, such as those on gender equality and decent work.<\/p>\n On Thursday, the International Organization for Migration will host its International Dialogue on youth and migration. Young people make up a significant proportion \u2013 11 per cent in 2017 \u2013 of international migrants. Ensuring their voices are heard within these corridors should be a priority for us all.<\/p>\n This week\u2019s events send a powerful signal that multilateral cooperation on migration is both essential and working.<\/p>\n Member States will take center stage at tomorrow\u2019s High-Level Debate, and rightly so. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration reaffirms the sovereignty of states and puts them firmly in the driving seat, acknowledging that no country can address migration alone.<\/p>\n But in adopting the compact, states also stressed the importance of a whole-of-society approach. Today\u2019s symposium is an excellent opportunity for experts from across the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ system, civil society, academia and governments to share ideas and strengthen partnerships.<\/p>\n Dear colleagues,<\/p>\n The 2030 Agenda recognizes that international migration and sustainable development are intertwined. Migrants already play a crucial role in achieving the SDGs. In 2017, they generated $466 billion in remittances \u2013 more than three times ODA for that year. In 2015, they contributed $6.7 trillion to global GDP.<\/p>\n Of course, migration poses challenges, also. Some of them are deadly \u2013 human trafficking, for instance. But gaps in data can also cost lives.<\/p>\n We must strengthen the global evidence base to ensure that migrants are not left behind.\u00a0 And we must design policies based on this evidence that will help us all to reap the benefits of human mobility. Accurate data is essential to achieve this, especially at a time when the migration debate is so often driven by perception rather than facts.<\/p>\n Data is also vital to dispel false claims and stereotypes that fuel xenophobia and discrimination. We must do more to promote factual dialogue on migration at the local, national and international levels. Data alone is not enough, but it is a necessary first step.<\/p>\n And alongside facts and figures, we need courage to make the positive case for migration, for which there is an abundance of evidence, whilst being honest about the challenges it brings.<\/p>\n Excellencies, colleagues, friends<\/p>\n The success of the Global Compact on Migration rests on active, sustained engagement by all stakeholders. There is much work to do. I wish you every success.<\/p>\n Thank you.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Opening remarks by H.E. Mar\u00eda Fernanda Espinosa Garc\u00e9s, President of the 73rd Session of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly – Delivered by Ambassador Kwabena Osei-Danquah, Chef de Cabinet<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":266,"featured_media":180492,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-180405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-speeches","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\nStatement by H.E. Mrs. Mar\u00eda Fernanda Espinosa Garc\u00e9s, President of the 73rd<\/sup> Session of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly<\/h3>\n