Update No. MRI/GFMD2008/06

No. MRI/GFMD2008/06 30 August 2008 ENGLISH

RE: Registration open for “Peoples’ Global Action on Migration, Development and Human Rights” - Independent civil society event parallel to GFMD Manila, October 2008

Dear Friends,

We would like to inform you that registration is now open for the Peoples’ Global Action on Migration, Development and Human Rights (PGA), an independent civil society event prior to and parallel to the GFMD that will take place in Manila, Philippines in October 2008.

You are invited to get information for the event, register to participate, and submit workshop proposals, at

http://www.mfasia.org/peoplesglobalaction/index.html

Information on the amount of the fee will be posted soon. It can be paid by bank transfer as well as paid in person at the event.

The site will be available in French and Spanish soon. Below please find some information about the PGA.

Best wishes,

Migrants Rights International

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PEOPLES’ GLOBAL ACTION ON MIGRATION, DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS (PGA)

22 – 30 October 2008

Manila, Philippines

The Peoples’ Global Action on Migration, Development and Human Rights (PGA) is an independent civil society event that is being organized by a coalition of civil society organizations.*

This is an independent event designed to monitor and influence the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), a governmental forum to be held in Manila, Philippines from 27 – 30 October 2008, as well as in order to provide an inclusive space for civil society organizations to gather, reflect and strategize on issues around migration, human rights, globalization and development.

The PGA is independent of the official Civil Society Days (which will be held on 27 – 28 October 2008) that is a part of the FGMD (which will be held October 27 and 28, 2008). It is being organized in response to the fact that the FGMD has been very restrictive on civil society participation, and is taking an approach that ignores the human rights of migrants and other peoples in discussing migration policy.

The PGA is intended to be an inclusive forum, in which all civil society organizations, including those groups that are selected to participate in the official FGMD Civil Society Days, can meet and exchange views. It is hoped that the PGA will culminate in a joint declaration expressing the views of civil society on migration, development and human rights, which will be delivered to governments on 27 October, at the beginning of the official Civil Society Days.

The PGA will allow space for key plenaries and workshops reflecting pressing issues around migration and human rights, self-organized and "open-space" events, broad networking, cultural events, rallies, marches, protests and other civil society initiated events in order to strengthen civil society movements, promote partnerships, and advance strategies and networks.

* International Working Group that is organizing the PGA includes: The Philippine Working Group**, Migrants Rights International (MRI), Fédération Internacional des Ligues des Droits de l’Homme (FIDH), Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women (GAATW), the Council of Global Unions, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) - Asia, Jubilee South and others.

The Philippine Working Group is composed of groups including Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL), ASEAN Trade Union Council (ATUC), Asian Migrant Center (AMC), Atikha, Batis Center for Women, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino(BMP), Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA), Asia Pacific Forum on Women Law and Development (APWLD), Coalition Against Trafficking in Women in the Asia Pacific (CATW-AP), Daughters of Charity, Focus on the Global South, Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), Global Network Asia, International Gender and Trade Network-Asia (IGTN), Jubilee South-Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development, KAKAMMPI, Kanlungan Center Foundation, National Union of Building & Construction Workers/BWI, Philippine Consortium on Migration and Development, Public Services International (PSI/PSLINK), Solidaritas Migran Scalabrini-Philippines, Stop the New Round, UNI-APRO, Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation, Women and Gender Institute Mirriam College (WAGI). The PWG is convened by Migrant Forum in Asia.

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