Migration is a common and necessary aspect of growth.
More so than many other places, the Caribbean is a migratory society. Our history, especially recent history, demonstrates that a wide range of circumstances continue to influence people’s movements, whether voluntary or forced, including climate change and rising disaster severity and frequency, economic obstacles, and extreme poverty or violence.
Many Dominicans have emigrated to other nations in search of personal goals, and they have contributed their knowledge, networks, and talents to help those communities grow stronger.
Similarly, many people from different countries have migrated to Dominica to pursue their own personal goals! They also share their expertise, networks, and skills to help Dominica’s communities become stronger and more resilient. Many of our medical personnel are migrants, and Dominica has received temporary assistance from visiting medical teams, notably the Cuban medics. Migrants have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 response in healthcare and other recovery-critical sectors including agriculture, aged care, and security services, to name a few.
Impactful decisions to handle the difficulties of global mobility and people on the move, as well as the opportunities afforded by global mobility and people on the move, can determine the future of our social and economic landscape. IOM encourages its Member States to engage with the Global Compact for Safe Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), a global forum that provides the opportunity and guidance to actualize human mobility and capitalize on the opportunities it presents.
Conflict and disasters force people to flee their homes in search of safety, as IOM has witnessed numerous times over its 70-year history. They are frequently exposed to trafficking and exploitation during their journeys, limiting their potential to thrive and contribute to the societies where they live.
States should put in place and implement protection mechanisms as well as alternative legal stay arrangements for more effective access to regular migration pathways, not only to protect the fundamental human rights of migrants on the move, but also to maximize their potential contribution.
Sustainable development entails improvement for everyone, not just a select few. To do so, we must develop equitable societies that welcome migrants of all kinds, regardless of their status.
Dominica’s strategy of ensuring equal access to vaccination and primary health care in general has been a commendable component of the Member State’s migration policies and has aided in the local management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, on International Migrants Day, December 18th, one week before many of us celebrate Christmas, we at IOM Dominica want to encourage everyone to keep an eye out for your vulnerable neighbours; reach out to the migrant in your midst, enquire about their family, and recognize their humanity. Remember that even small acts can have a big impact in harnessing the true potential of migrants to contribute positively to our growth, development, and resilience.
