No. MRI/COMM/2008/004                        10 October 2008                                    ENGLISH

Re: William Gois Interview on GFMD on December 18 Radio

Dear Friends,

Attached please find the link to a recent interview with William Gois, Regional Coordinator of Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) and Chair of the International Steering Committee of Migrants Rights International, on December 18 Radio.

Gois discussed the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), scheduled to take place from October 27 – 30, 2008 in Manila, Philippines, including its stark contrast from the World Social Forum on Migrations (WSFM) held in September 2008 in Spain. He discussed how the WSFM, which is organized by activists, people's groups, NGOs and social movements, focuses on the "human rights and human dignity" of migrants. The GFMD, on the other hand, is clearly a "governmental process," and not the result of a people-driven movement. Gois expressed his concerns about the upcoming GFMD in Manila, stating that the principal challenge faced by civil society members is to push governments to recognize the human rights of migrants, instead of viewing migration solely in terms of economic benefit for states. He explained that "the understanding of the human person is being nullified" by state-driven migration policies, in which humans are considered commodities and the "complexity of human dignity" is disregarded. 

To hear the complete interview (in English), please visit:

http://www.radio1812.net/en/audio/2008/10/way_manila

Sincerely,

Migrants Rights International