Migration Dialogue for West Africa (MIDWA)

Submitted by Ms. Laurence BRON on

The Migration Dialogue for West Africa or MIDWA was designed as a platform to encourage the Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to discuss, in a regional context, such common migration issues and concerns for which immediate solutions may not be forthcoming at a national level. Its objective is to promote and ensure high quality cooperation among ECOWAS Member States, third countries and other international consultative forums on Free Movement and migration by:

Free Movement in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Submitted by Ms. Laurence BRON on

The Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen countries, founded in 1975. Its mission is to promote economic integration in "all fields of economic activity, particularly industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial questions, social and cultural matters .....".

ECOWAS has introduced the ECOWAS Passport and APEC has put in place an APEC-visa for certain categories of people to facilitate their movement in these groupings' member States. 

Statistical Information System on Migration in Meso-America (SIEMMES / SICREMI)

Submitted by Ms. Laurence BRON on

The Migration Information and Statistics System for Mesoamerica (SIEMMES by its Spanish acronym) is a system of migration information designed to capture and monitor the magnitude and characteristics of migratory movements from, to and between the Central American countries and Mexico, by coordinating and compatibilizing the data generated by different agencies in all those countries. 



Set up in 2001, it includes Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama.

Dialogue on Mediterranean Transit-Migration (MTM)

Submitted by Ms. Laurence BRON on

The Mediterranean Transit Migration (MTM) Dialogue is an inter-regional inter-governmental consultative forum of a wide number of EU, African, and other governments in the Meditteranean region, as well as observer States, and Partner Agecies, which aims to build common understandings and to jointly develop evidence-based comprehensive and sustainable migration management systems.

Inter-Governmental Asia-Pacific Consultations on Refugees, Displaced Persons and Migrants (ACP)

Submitted by Ms. Laurence BRON on

The Inter-governmental Asia-Pacific Consultations on Refugees, Displaced Persons and Migrants (APC) is affiliation of Asia-Pacific governments, who seek regional co-operation on matters relating to population movements, including refugees, displaced persons and migrants. It aims to promote dialogue and explore opportunities for greater regional cooperation on these matters. 

The APC was established in 1996 and is made up of over 30 Member States from Asia and Oceania. 

Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime

Submitted by Ms. Laurence BRON on

Since its inception in 2002, the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime (Bali Process) has effectively raised regional awareness of the consequences of people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crime. It is a forum for policy dialogue, information sharing and practical cooperation to help the region address these challenges. The Bali Process, co-chaired by Indonesia and Australia, has more than 48 members, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization fo

The Söderköping Process

Submitted by Ms. Laurence BRON on

The Söderköping Process was launched in May 2001, funded by the European Union, as a cross-border cooperation process on asylum and migration  and in order to respond to the new challenges that arose with the EU’s eastward enlargement. It is named after Söderköping, Sweden, where the first meeting took place on the initiative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Swedish Migration Board.

UNIFEM's 'Empowering Women Migrant Workers in Asia' Programme

Submitted by Ms. Laurence BRON on

The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), under its Regional Programme on 'Empowering Women Migrant Workers in Asia', partners with recruiting/placement agency associations in some Asian countries to negotiate favourable contracts, benefits and working conditions for women; and to inform them of their rights. 

The programme began implementation in 2001, promoting women’s human rights and empowerment by:

Joint checking account offered by the Moroccan Banque Populaire for the migrants' families

Submitted by Ms. Laurence BRON on

Banks can play a stronger role in keeping transfer fees low for migrants through the creation of special services with features that aid migrant’s remittance transfers. An example of such services are the joint checking accounts offered by the Moroccan Banque Populaire. Through their own branches and agreements with banks in European countries, migrants in Europe can make deposits into the account which can then be accessed by family members in Morocco. 

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