News

The 9th Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) took place in Dhaka, Bangladesh from the 8th until the 12th of December 2016 with the theme of: “Migration that Works for Sustainable Development for All: Towards a Transformative Migration Agenda”. The informal, non-binding, and voluntary process led by governments has enabled CSO including trade unions to participate in the discussion and deliberation.

UNI Apro was represented by Bro Rajendra Kumar Acharya, Assistant Regional Secretary, UNI Apro, Bro Milind Nadkarni, President, UNI ILC (India), Sis Anjali Bedekar, Coordinator for UNI ILC (India), Bro Fasih Ud Din, Coordinator for UNI PALC (Pakistan), Bro Shankar Lamichhane, President, UNI NLC (Nepal), Sis Dipa Bharadqaj, Women President, UNI NLC (Nepal), Bro. Ganesh K.C- General Secretary UNI NLC (Nepal) and Bro Haripriya Hettiarachchi, Coordinator UNI SLAC (Sri Lanka). They were joined by colleagues from Bangladesh: Bro Amjad Ali Khan, President UNI BLC (Bangladesh) and Bro. A.K.M. Mostafa Kamal, Coordinator for UNI BLC (Bangladesh).  

Global unions collectively issued a statement before the forum demanding that the GFMD process and proceedings needs to contribute to the implementation of SDGs and the development of the Global Compact on Migration. Governments need to take the lead in providing sufficient space to CSOs and incorporating the views of civil society. It is particularly important as it is only the second time that this process takes place in the Asia region. This provided an important opportunity for the collective voices of the region to be heard and to influence the policies on migrants on a global scale.

Many concurrent events held during the Asian Civil Society Day (ACSD) in preparation for People’s Global Actions on Migration, Development and Human Rights (PGA) and Civil Society Days generated deep discussions and recommendations on different issues that migration itself is now facing. The 10th GFMD Summit is slated to be held next in Berlin on 28 to 30 June 2017.

Taking the opportunity with many of the UNI Apro leaders attending the GFMD, UNI Apro organised a one day “South Asia Leadership Forum” on 10 December. The event was led by UNI Bangladesh Liaison Council with the support of SASK (Finland). The forum discussed trade union development activities and issues of common concerns shared by affiliates in the sub-region.