Thursday, November 24, 2011

Let the genuine voice of migrants and refugees echo in Geneva to the GFMD!

As a migrant and refugee organization, advocate and friend, we invite you to join “MIGRANTS Counter to the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD)”– includes two events organized by the International Migrants Alliance (IMA), to be held 30 November- 1st December 2011 in Geneva, Switzerland.

From  the GFMD in Manila 2008, Athens 2009, and Mexico 2010,  the IMA mobilized thousands of grassroots migrant/refugee organizations and their allies to  expose and oppose the GFMD as a neo-liberal tool to further exploit the migrants and make use of them as instruments for development schemes sponsored by state and international financial institutions. IMA raised the calls: NO TO GFMD, NO TO FORCED MIGRATION, UPHOLD MIGRANT RIGHTS AND WELFARE. There is still a need to expose the GFMD, since it continues to  peddle its discredited  and deceptive framework.

In previous counter-GFMD activities, IMA dealt with  specific country, regional and international  issues. This year, IMA is consulting with various organizations for the launching of an internationally-coordinated campaign on the undocumented/irregular migrant.

The events to which you are invited to share your views are:

Event 1: Consultation Meeting on an internationally -coordinated Campaign to Protect and Uphold Rights of Undocumented: Focus on Criminalization/Deportation and Regularization
Date: 30 November Time: 18:00 – 20:30 hrs. Place: Maisons des Associations
Program: Testimonies on the plight and struggle of the undocumented, Sharings with trade unions/NGOs and Campaign Planning and sharing on the findings of a Survey on the DECLINE OF THE GFMD 

Event 2: NO TO GFMD demonstration/mobile picket to further expose and oppose the GFMD and for solidarity with the undocumented/irregular migrants
Date: 1 December Time: 1700-1900 hrs. Venue: “The Chair”, Palais de Nations
Program: speeches, street cultural activities

Main calls: NO TO GFMD, NO to criminalization/deportation of the undocumented, YES to regularization, Uphold Migrant Rights

Together, we will OCCUPY GENEVA to denounce the elitist GFMD, raise our issues and forge our solidarity.

Kindly confirm your attendance and participation in the  two events.



For further information, please contact:

Ms. Grace Punongbayan (Netherlands)
MIGRANTE Europe
Member, International Coordinating Body-IMA
Email ima.europe@gmail.com
Mobile: +31. 6.33056411

MIGRANTE-Switzerland
Mr. Donnie Mapanao
donnie.mapanao@gmail.com
+41.793 744639

Mr. Jake Clemencio
j.b.clemenciord@bluewin.ch
+41.774 593156

Visit:
http://imaeurope.wordpress.com
http://iamr3.wordpress.com
http://www.eiler.ph/iamr-convenes-in-athens/
http://internationalmigrants.org/cms/
http://iamr3.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/declaration-iamr-manila-final.pdf

The IMA is a broad international alliance composed of progressive migrant and refugee organizations of different nationalities. It primarily banners the advancement of the rights and interests of migrants, refugees and displaced people in different countries. It is a network of 70 regular member organizations and 32 associate members from the Asia-Pacific, North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The effectiveness of its campaigns and lobby work derives from the mass-based strength of its member-organizations. Some of its support institutions enjoy an ECOSOC status and recognized in the UN and other international bodies. It was founded in June 2008 in Hong Kong.

The IMA is coordinating with various Swiss and Swiss-based organizations to promote the two events mentioned above.

No comments: