United Nations exec praises PHL on migrant protection

United Nations Special Representative for International Migration and Development Peter Sutherland recently praised the Philippines for its efforts to protect Filipino migrants.   At the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) held in Geneva from December 1 to 2, Sutherland commended the Philippine government's work to protect Filipinos caught in crisis situations.   "He specifically mentioned the Philippines as rising to the challenge by setting up a system to protect and engage its migrants, saying that that the GFMD could learn from the Philippines' initiatives and good practices," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.   The DFA said Sutherland also called the GFMD's attention to key issues on migration and development, such as:

• the plight of stranded migrants
• the situation of domestic workers, particularly the "kafala" or sponsorship system which "constituted a modern form of slavery"
• the need to tap migrant communities for more effective skills recognition and certification.