A/64/213
B.
Good practices
60. In discharging his mandate, the Special Rapporteur has encountered a number
of initiatives, activities and policies implemented by Governments and civil society
that reflect their commitment to the realization of human rights in the context of
migration. The Special Rapporteur wishes to highlight some examples focused on
the human rights of migrants, with particular emphasis on the rights of the child; the
examples provided are not exhaustive. The Special Rapporteur also believes that it
is important to increase efforts to exchange information on the ways in which
Governments and international and regional non-governmental organizations around
the world are trying to promote respect for the human rights of migrants throughout
the migration process with a view to helping States to fill in policy and protection
gaps at all levels.
Enhancing cooperation between countries of origin and destination
61. The attention of the Special Rapporteur has been drawn to the migration of
health professionals as a serious impediment to the delivery of health-care services
to the population in communities characterized by high levels of migration, which in
some countries of origin also affects the provision of health-care services to
children. In this connection, the Special Rapporteur welcomes efforts made by some
host countries to transform migration challenges for countries of origin into
opportunities for cooperation. A good example is the Migration and Development
for Africa pilot project, launched by the Helsinki office of the International
Organization for Migration with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Finland, which promotes the return of qualified professionals of Somali background
on a temporary basis to Somaliland and Puntland to assist and share their skills with
local health authorities, civil society organizations, hospitals and universities.
62. The Special Rapporteur has also been informed about bilateral efforts to
promote learning of the heritage language in host countries among migrant children
and children from a migrant background, as in the case of States members of the
European Union, where such bilateral agreements are envisaged under directive
77/486/CEE. The Special Rapporteur welcomes such initiatives.
Enhancing cooperation between countries of origin and diaspora communities
63. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the efforts and initiatives of countries of
origin to enhance cooperation with diaspora communities, as in the case of Ethiopia,
where, in 2008, the Government established the Ethiopian Expatriate Affairs
Direction and the Diaspora Coordination Offices within the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and the Ministry of Capacity-Building, respectively, with a view to
enhancing protection for the Ethiopian diaspora community.
64. The Special Rapporteur also praises efforts made by Governments to promote
the contribution of skilled emigrants in the development of their country of origin,
as in the case of Albania, where an online “brain-gain” database has been
implemented with the support of the United Nations Development Programme to
allow skilled emigrants to contribute in various domains, including, but not limited
to, academia and the private sector.
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