http://sudanow.info.sd/coalition-against-illegal-migration-human-trafficking-a-transition-from-word-to-deed/
Coalition Against Illegal Migration & Human Trafficking: A Transition from Word to Deed
By: Ibrahim Musa
KHARTOUM (SUDANOW)—The catastrophic incidents the illegal migrants experience have alerted the world’s human conscience to the plight of those migrants. Those incidents, particularly the drowning in the Mediterranean between North Africa and Europe, have caused insomnia world-wide. Those migrants have become victims to human traffickers and armed movements spread in a number of countries.
Growing Anxiety:
The international community has demonstrated a growing anxiety over the migration phenomenon and the resulting complicated problems which have inflicted upon many countries tremendous implications related to security, stability, food provision and pressures on services to the peoples of those countries. Moreover, the migration has become a bone of contention between its supporters and opponents in many countries to an extent that has outweighed the viewpoint of sacrificing those migrants. Others, however, believe that the migration is a natural international matter which is connected not only with emergencies but also with a search for jobs or fleeing pressures in their home countries for different reasons.
Formation of a Coalition of Sudanese Organizations to Fight the Phenomenon:
The states, governments and organizations have exerted tremendous efforts for putting in place arrangements for curbing the illegal migration phenomenon despite a heated debate on its advantages and disadvantages for the host countries and communities. In this regard, Sudanese civil society organizations created a coalition for combating the illegal migration and human trafficking composed of 25 Sudanese organizations beside 30 other organizations which have signed a partnership agreement to collaborate for achievement of the objectives of the coalition as the Sudan is considered a transit country for migrants to Europe, the Arab Gulf states and other destinations.
The new coalition, according to its Chairman Al-Sadek Mohamed Ahmed Ishaq, is aimed at disseminating awareness, through leaflets and symposiums, of the risks of illegal migration in coordination with the concerned agencies of the Sudanese government and through contacts with the concerned international organizations and institutions beside visits to the migration victims.
Ishaq added that the coalition also works for provision of the social protection for the migration-affected persons, especially the women and children, for violation of their rights and supporting the voluntary return of the migrants.
He said the coalition intends to have full coordination and contact with the organs of the state as well as the international organizations and diplomatic missions for drawing up a comprehensive plan for fighting illegal migration and human trafficking.
The activities of the coalition internally and with the neighboring countries:
Ishaq said the coalition would coordinate with the authorities of Eritrea and Ethiopia, regarding them as the main sources of influx of migrants across the Sudan. The coordination with those countries is aimed at enlightenment of their peoples within their territories on the risks of illegal migration to discourage them from crossing the Sudan, the coalition chief said.
As regards their activities within Sudan, Ishaq said the coalition would assist the government in the process of counting the aliens in the country, noting that the Sudan and its people have been affected by the influx of great number of migrants in the past five years. The coalition will ask the Ministry of Labor to participate in an awareness process on employment of domestic servants.
Migration & Human Trafficking Research Center:
The new coalition has begun establishing a migration and human trafficking research center to enable it to create a comprehensive database and publish information on migration and migrants, said Ishaq. He called for rallying international and regional efforts for addressing the illegal migration and minimizing the incidents of drowning and other phenomena like human trafficking.
Sudanese-European Coordination for Combating the Phenomenon:
The Sudan has exerted appreciable efforts for fighting illegal migration by organizing two conferences in the past period, something that was hailed by the UN Human Rights Council, said Ishaq. However, he added that the US economic sanctions have curbed those efforts, wishing that activation of the country’s relations with the European Union would help accelerate them.
As for the European side, the IOM representative, Fenz Veron, praised the formation of the coalition and the concern by the Sudanese civil society organizations with the illegal migration.
She pledged support for foundation of the Migration and Human Trafficking Research Center which provides the needed information on the phenomenon, noting that the currently available information is characterized by incredibility.
The Deputy Chairperson of the Italian mission in Khartoum, Ms.Valeria Romare, underlined as important and strategic the role being played by Sudan in fighting illegal migration. The Sudan has exerted an appreciable effort in this connection, she said, adding: “We need coordination between the various institutions.”
The Sudan and the United Kingdom agreed in December 2015 on arrangements for an agreement that ensures coordination of cooperation by the police for fighting the organized and cross-border crime in addition to curbing the illegal migration and human trafficking activities. Sudanese Foreign Under-Secretary Abdul Ghani al-Naeim discussed with the director for migration at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, James Sharp, and the representative to the Horn of Africa for the National Crime Agency (NCA), Roy Godwin, in the presence of the British Ambassador to Khartoum in mid-December, the prospects of cooperation and coordination between Sudan and Britain in the migration and Police field, particularly in connection with the organized and cross-border crime, illegal migration and human trafficking.
The Foreign Under-Secretary described the meeting as an advanced step towards strengthening the ties between the two countries, though he noted that the relationship with Britain is below ambition.
Consolidation of the Efforts:
The Under-Secretary stressed the need for consolidation of the efforts, exchange of visits, identifying the opportunities of cooperation between the two countries and finding joint projects for enhancement of those relations.
Naeim called upon the British officials to stop the political and military support to the armed movements which fight the Sudanese government on several fronts.
He told the British officials that creation of crises in general and inciting sedition and wars directly contributes to the influx of refugees in the European countries.
He said that the reasons for illegal migration must be scrutinized and addressed, underscoring the need for the European countries, in general, and Britain, in particular, to persuade the armed movements into adopting the course of serious dialogue and negotiation for reaching a lasting peace in Sudan.
Ishaq called for consolidation of coordination and cooperation between Sudan and the international community, especially the European countries, for transition from word to deed and execution of relevant joint projects, reaffirming the Sudan’s full commitment to fighting illegal migration, human trafficking and organized crime, in general.
Mr. Sharp conveyed to Ishaq that it was provisionally agreed on preparation of a memorandum or an agreement between Sudan and Britain for boosting cooperation in the police-migration field.
The British official said that his visit to Sudan was for consultation with the concerned Sudanese officials on assistance to the Sudan by offering projects acceptable to the working team responsible for provision of funds necessary for combating illegal migration in the framework of what had been agreed upon in Valletta Summit that was recently held in Malta.
Mr. Sharp appreciated the great cooperation by the authorities of the Sudanese government in charge of the dossier, particularly the Foreign, Interior and Justice Ministries and the National Intelligence and Security Service.
The International Migrants Status:
According to the IOM, there are 232 million refugees and about 740 internally displaced persons in the world. Mission chief Mario Lito Malanca speaking at a Sudanese journalists forum organized by the British Council in coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Information under the motto of “The Positive Impact of Migrant on Sudan”, recently held in Khartoum’s Korinthia Hotel, said there is a refugee and a displaced person among every seven persons in the world.
The donations to the European support fund for addressing the reasons for migration and displacement in Africa have reached 1.5 billion dollars. The Sudan has been listed among the countries that deserve support through the projects to be provided by the Fund. Mr. Malanca indicated that numerous benefits could be reaped by the Sudan from migration if it is managed properly. He noted that this year has witnessed the migration of 60 million people, including 20 million asylum seekers while there are 37 million migrants residing in developing countries and 74 million others residing in developed countries.
In conclusion, the illegal migration and the ensuing risks posed several questions awaiting answers. These questions include whether the migration is desired in case it is properly controlled and organized, the extent of benefit by the rich countries of the North from the increased manpower in the poor countries of the South and its ability for contribution to the development in those countries and whether the migrants will be rescued from falling victims to the human trafficking groups and armed movements.
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Received on Tue Mar 08 2016 - 06:03:40 EST