10th Regional Conference on Migration
6-7 November 2006; Singapore
Recognizing that international migration, particularly irregular migration, has increasingly become a major economic, social, humanitarian, political and security concern for a number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region, MFA co-organized the 10th Regional Conference on Migration with the Singapore National Trades Union Congress (SNTUC) from 6-7 November 2006 in Singapore.
The RCM, guided by the theme “Current Perspectives and Strategies in Addressing Irregular Migration", provided a venue for the participants to make a critical and comprehensive analysis of the social, economic, political and security causes and consequences of irregular migration in the countries of origin, transit and destination.
The RCM is organized by the MFA every alternate year. It is the largest regional non-government forum on Asian migration issues, trends, analysis, updates, responses and strategies. It is one of the most authoritative, representative and regular gatherings of migrants, advocates, support groups, non-government organizations, scholars and experts on Asian migration.
The following are the list of RCMs held since its conception in 1994:
(1) Living and Working Together with Migrant Workers in Asia, May 1994, Hsinchu, Taiwan;
(2) Asian Women Prepare for Beijing 1995, January 1995, Bangkok, Thailand;
(3) Migrant Workers Challenging Global Structures, August 1996, Seoul, Korea;
(4) Regional Lobbying and Documentation Training on Migrants’ Human Rights, February 1998, Tao Fong Shan, Hong Kong;
(5) Rights and Roots Campaign and Migrant Reintegration (Migrant Savings for Alternative Investments), December 1998, Quezon City, Philippines;
(6) A Decade of Empowerment: Reviewing and Building Gains, Lessons, Concepts and Joint Strategies, March 2000, Chiang Mai, Thailand;
(7) Developing National & Regional Advocacy Agendas on Migrants’ Human Rights, June 2001, Jakarta, Indonesia;
(8) The Impact of Migration on Migrant Workers’ Health and Well-Being, October, 2002, Dhaka, Bangladesh; and,
(9) Migration for Development and its Feminization Process, September 2004, Seoul, Korea.
The RCM was attended by 107 participants from 21 countries representing migrant organizations, trade unions, women and other civil society organizations, academia and UN agencies.
Singapore Declaration
List of Participants
Conference presentations
Day 1 (Nov. 6, 2006)
Ministry of Manpower Presentation - Foreign Manpower Management
Plenary Session 1 - Clarifying Concepts and Establishing a Rights-based Social Justice Framework on “Irregular” Migration
- Identifying and Clarifying Concepts on "Irregular Migration", Dr. Ryszard Cholewinski, Labour Migration Specialist, Migration Policy, Research and Communications, International Organization for Migration (IOM)
- Rights-based Approach to "Irregular Migration", Dr. Nicola Piper, Senior Research Fellow, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore
- Rights-based Approaches: Undocumented Migration in Delhi, Ms. Amanda Shah, Researcher, Immigration Advisory Service (IAS)
Plenary Session 2 - Current Strategies in Addressing “Irregular” Migration
- Migration Management Toward Reduced "Irregular" Migration, Dr. Irena Vojackova-Sollorano,
Regional Representative for Southeast Asia, International Organization for Migration (IOM)
- Irregular Migration: Policies and Measures undertaken by Japan and other Major Countries, Mr. Susumu Yamagami, Dean, Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan; Former Senior Assistant for Examination, Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice ( Japan)
- Regularization Strategies of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Ms. Michele LeVoy,
Director, PICUM – Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)
- A Decade in Struggle for Regularization of Undocumented Migrant Workers, Fr. Choi Jungi, Co-Representative, Joint Committee on Migrant Workers in Korea (JCMK)
Plenary Session 3 - Core Human Rights Treaties, Labour Standards and Good Practices in Addressing “Irregular” Migration, and Gaps in Policy, Practice and Implementation
- ILO Labour Standards and “Irregular” Migration: Relevance and Gaps, Dr. Piyasiri Wickramasekara, Senior Migration Specialist, International Migration Programme, International Labour Organization (ILO)
- Core Human Rights Instruments in Relation to “Irregular” Migrants’ Rights vis-à-vis Gaps in Policy, Practice and Implementation, Dr. Ryszard Cholewinski, Labour Migration Specialist, Migration Policy, Research and Communications, International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Day 2 (Nov. 7, 2006)
Plenary 4 - Enhancing Good Practices in Addressing “Irregular” Migration
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