DFA dares civil society: Solve migrant problems

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official in charge of migrant workers affairs challenged civil society groups on Tuesday to come up with concrete solutions to the increasing problems of migrants all over the world. "I would have wanted more concrete steps that you can show to us that governments are doing singly or working in tandem in protecting the rights of migrants," Undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr said during the closing plenary of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) Civil Society Days at the Philippine International Cultural Center in Manila. With cases of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) being kidnapped in Somalia or Nigeria, beheadings in the Middle East, and exploitation cases every where, he said he encounters "actual" problems in need of actual solutions. "Tell me, share it with me, we can share it with governments," said Conejos, who heads the DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (Oumwa). Conejos told civil society groups that they can together get governments to sit down and tell them the problems of migrant workers and the solutions introduced. "In the next two days, let us maximize their (the foreign governments’) presence," said Conejos during a press briefing on Tuesday night. He said that civil society should share its experiences with governments in order to build a consensus around that kind of experience. "I cannot wait for that ideal world. I am faced with exploitation confronting our migrants. So what do we do?" he asked. Moreover, he said that non-governmental organizations should take advantage of their "power" because since they are "on the ground," migrants approach them before they approach the government. "I have very high expectations that you can share with us, in this particular case," said Conejos. Aside from challenging themselves, he said that people should remember that the "added value" of the international forum is that it is an ongoing process. He said that it is not true that governments are not doing anything. "There are countries that have not ratified the convention, but it does not mean that they are not doing anything in protecting the rights of migrants," said Conejos. Moreover, he said that he really looks forward to "a very interesting and interactive discussion" even after the interface of the government and the civil society groups. Representatives of 192 countries are attending the four-day conference, which opened on Monday to discuss the pressing concerns of migrant workers in a bid to come up with solutions. As host of the forum, the Philippines is hoping to showcase the government's "best practices" in migration, which he said is being emulated by the world over. "(It will also) widen our global network contact to ensure that our OFWs will always be protected," Conejos earlier said. The first two days, called the “civil society days," gave a chance for non-government groups to participate and share their ideas. Their recommendations shall be presented to governments on Wednesday morning during the first day of the “government days" where United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will be present. - GMANews.TV