High Level Dialogue on Missing Migrants under the theme “Addressing the issue of Missing Migrants in Africa: from Policy to Action,” is underway at AU Headquarters.
The high level dialogue was organized by the African Union Commission(AUC) in collaboration with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Switzerland Embassy in Ethiopia.
Speaking at the occasion, Minister of Women and Social Affairs Ergogie Tesfaye said such platform is quite critical in raising awareness of the real time challenge, and give an opportunity to learn from the peers and operational partners as well.
“We do recognize the immense challenges faced by migrants and their families due to the uncertainties they face ranging from death to physical injuries, including psychological and financial distress for their families and communities as well,” the minister indicated
As one of the vulnerable countries in East Africa, Ethiopia is experiencing such challenges as death of citizens are reported in transit and destination countries due to irregular migration, she stated.
Nowadays, regular migration is a regional and national challenge for source, transit and destination countries, she added.
ICRC Regional Director for Africa Patrick said on his part that protecting migrants and addressing the growing issue of the disappearance transcends national responses and obviously requires transnational cooperation along with migratory routes.
“We must coordinate our efforts more effectively to change their heart wrenching state of affairs, as well as to prevent and respond to such disappearances,” he underlined.
Ambassador of Zambia to Ethiopia and AU and Representative of the Chairperson of the STC on Migration, Refuges and IDPs, Rose Kashembe said the African Union has taken concrete measures to address the issue of missing migrants.
“We have crafted and promulgated various policy and frameworks and instruments to affirm our commitment to safeguarding the rights, dignity and wellbeing of all migrants,” he stated.
However, time has come to translate these aspirations to tangible outcomes that change the lives and shape the continent’s future, he stressed.
Through a harmonized approach of data collection, information sharing and cross border cooperation, we can turn this resolution into a catalyst for transformative change, he adde
Source: Ethiopian News Agency