| International Migrant'S Days - 2007 |
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| December 18th, 2007 | |
Bangladesh | |
2007-12-18 |
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| FDC Stationary Value : 6.00 TK The UN General Assembly on recommendation of the UN Economic and Social Council has proclaimed 18 December as "International Migrant's Day" on 4 December 2000 (Resolution 55/93). This Proclamation came into being to protect the human rights of all migrants of the Globe. The UN invited all member countries, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to observe this day by disseminating information on human rights and fundamental freedom of migrants, sharing experiences and undertaking action to ensure the protection of migrants. It is estimated that about 3% of the world population today reside outside the country of their birth or nationality. Migrants provide important economic resources and unique cultural diversity to the destination countries and bring back much needed skills and capital home. From Bangladesh, during 1976 to April 2007 about 47.51 lakh professionals/workers migrated abroad. These overseas employment and workers' remittances contribute significantly to our economic development through reduction of unemployment and augmenting foreign exchange reserves. In FY 2005-2006 migrant workers' remittances contribute 6.89% to GDP and 45.62% to total export. Up to April 2007 of FY 2006-2007 total official remittances stood at Tk. 33894.60 crore which is much higher than the previous year's (FY 2005-2006) total remittances amounting to Tk. 32210.90 crore. So we should recognize the contributions made by millions of migrants to the economic well being of their home and host countries. Desptie their enormous contributions, migrant workers experience exploitation, sub-standard living and working conditions, discrimination and deprivation of human rights in home and host countries. Unskilled, illeterate and undocumented migrants' human rights are violated severely. Women make up almost half of the migrant population in the world and their number is increasing according to a World Bank Report. This number is comparatively smaller in case of Bangladesh. A total of 381516 Bangladeshis have been migrants in 2006 of whom 17970 were women. So women migrants cannot be ignored as they are contributing largely to the economy. But women migrants are more vulnerable to human rights violation, bullying and abuse. Sometimes women become the victims of trafficking. So, safe migration for women should be ensured by the home and host countries by providing legal protection and monitoring mechanism, adopting awareness making and skill-enhancing programmes. The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is concerned to provide protection to the migrant workers. With a view to reducing the cost of overseas employment, eliminating harassment of workers and protecting from illegal fraudulent sub-agents, the Government has stablished a database for overseas employment. The Government has also taken some important measures like introduction of computer-based-Online Immigration Clearance Programme and compulsory pre-departure orientation for all migrant workers, construction of "One Stop Service Centre" with all facilities to expatriate workers and establishment of two "Welfare Desk" at Zia International Airport and one each at Shah Amanat Airport Chittagong and Osmani International Airport Sylhet. The observance of International Migrant's Day 2007 and this year's title theme "Safe Migration is Women's Right" will help create awareness of women's safe migration throughout the world. To mark this day, Bangladesh Post Office releases a commemorative stamp in assistance with UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women), Bangladesh which is engaged in organizing different activities to make social awareness about the challenges and opportunities of the women migrant workers of Bangladesh. We wish International Migrant's Day 2007 every success. |
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