FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT GFMD
What is the GFMD? The Global Forum on Migration and Development, or GFMD, is an intergovernmental forum (a meeting of governments) that has started to take place every year to discuss on migration and development issues. The GFMD came out of the recommendations of the United Nations High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development held on September 14-15 2006. The first GFMD took in Brussels, Belgium on 10-11 July 2007.
Why is the GFMD important? The GFMD has become one of the principal international spaces in which government discuss migration and development policy (though it is not the only one). International discourse and thought on migration policy and its relationship to development – and migrants’ rights - is being developed there. Further, bilateral agreements on migration are frequently been negotiated during the GFMD.
When and where is the next GFMD going to take place? The next GFMD, the second one to be held, will take place in Manila, Philippines in October 27– 30, 2008.
Why are migrants rights organization concerned about the GFMD?
The GFMD is taking the course of examining migration policy only through the lens of economic development, without concern for the impact policies have on migrants. It has so far been very resistant to the integration of international human rights framework and principles to protect migrants. It has also been very restrictive to participation by civil society.
What will be discussed at the Manila GFMD? October 27 and 28 will be civil society days, with the 28thhaving a half-day interaction with governments and civilsociety. October 29 and 30 are official government days,which discussions will be held in plenaries (allgovernments meetings), and “Round Tables” (small group of governments. The Round Table themes selected are (i) “Migration, Development and Human Rights; (ii) Secure, legal migration can achieve stronger development impacts; (iii) policy and institutional coherence and partnerships.
Who are the organizers for the government process and the CSO Day?
The organizers are the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for the government process and the Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI) for the civil society day (CSO).
What is the role of Ayala Foundation?
As the organizer of the CSO forum, the Ayala Foundation is tasked to facilitate the selection of the 230? CSO participants from around the globe. At the local level, the Ayala Foundation established a Philippine Organizing Committee (POC) to help in the preparation.
Ayala Foundation is also tasked to create an International Advisory Committee (IAC) to look into the criteria and selection of participants for the global CSO and experts committee to prepare the background paper for the GFMD CSO formal process.
A Sub-Committee (subcom) of the POC is also created. The subcom is in charge of the island consultations where the nominees for Philippine participants will be made. It was initially an MFA/CMA initiative, and AFI has since expressed that they would like to engage in this.
How many CSOs will participate in the formal CSO process?
Two hundred (200) CSOs from around the globe and 30 CSOs in the Philippines will participate in the CSO Day which is scheduled on 27-28 October.
Who will choose the CSO participants?
The subcom of the Philippine Organizing Committee will select the 30 local participants (Filipino CSOs) while the International Advisory Committee is in-charge of the selection of the global CSOs.
What are the criteria for the selection of participants?
- Organizations/institutions and/or individuals should be able to display a broad, substantive expertise, and/or experience in one or more of the three themes that will be discussed
- Participating organizations/institutions should be of a public interest nature with direct links to migrants, and operate on the local, regional, national and international level. Ideally the organization should have a broad constituency, solid operations with good programs, several years of experience, adequate sources of funding and staffing, good working relations with other civil society actors and government and policy-making institutions.
- The organizers will strive to achieve balanced representation from diverse sectors of civil society and geographic regions, as well as -
- A gender balance among participants
How can I get involved?
You may participate through the following channels:
Official CSO
For the official CSO Days which will be held on 27-28 October, online application is available. You may visit the 2nd GFMD website at www.gfmd2008.org and go to the Delegation Information. Online forum is also available. Discussions from the online forum will be used for the background papers which the expert groups will draft for the Roundtable discussion.
Parallel Event
While there is official civil society days programmed into the GFMD, this is very restrictive and will not allow the participation of a large number or range of civil society groups. Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), the Philippine Working Group, Migrants Rights International (MRI) and other organizations are working to organize a civil society parallel event to the GFMD.
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