He noted that, 'migration is no longer dominated by moves from developing countries to affluent states,' saying that, 'new migration poles are emerging in Asia, Africa and South America to meet labour demands in those areas.'

He, however, warned that the discussion about migration had reached 'a worrying imbalance.

'The fear of the ‘other’ has become more acute since the onset of the other world financial and economic crisis. Migrants have increasingly become the targets of racist and intolerant attitudes and practices,' the UN official stated.

Al-Nasser, therefore, called on countries to strengthen their cooperation to maximize the benefits of international migrants and to minimize its negative consequences.

In a related development, the IOM’s annual global migration report stated that migrants’ voices need to be better heard in the debate about migration, especially during economic downturns when discussions often include negative stereotyping and even xenophobia.

The report stressed that this does not mean the debate on migration should be uncritical. Rather, it should be based on an open discussion that tackles misinformation.

On his part, William Lacy Swing, IOM Director-General, said: 'Accurately informing the wider public about migration may be the single most important policy tool in all societies faced with increasing diversity.'

Swing noted that, 'there are more people on the move than at any other time in recorded history, with about 215 million international migrants and 740 million domestic migrants.

'You would think at a time like this that migration would be something that is very welcome but in point of fact, the cruel irony is that more and more governments are turning inward, borders are being closed, visa regimes are being tightened and there is less and less opportunity for migration to occur on a legal basis, so a lot of people are being pushed into the hands of traffickers,” he stated.

PANA reported that representatives of at least 145 countries gathered in Geneva on Wednesday for the start of a two-day conference on refugees and statelessness that is being organized by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The conference, which will be addressed by High Commissioner Antonio Guterres, is being held to mark the 60th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 50th anniversary of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

Pana 08/12/2011

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