PRESS BRIEFING BY POPULATION DIVISION DIRECTOR

PRESS BRIEFING BY POPULATION DIVISION DIRECTOR

During a press briefing at United Nations Headquarters today, the world body’s top population demographics official warned that with more and more people leaving their homes in search of a better life for themselves and their families, a key challenge for our world in the twenty-first century would be finding ways better manage migration.

Immigrants were facing mixed messages from (mainly developed) receiving countries, said Joseph Chamie, Director of the Population Division, in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).  There was a feeling among migrants that “keep out” notices posted at border crossings and immigration checkpoints often contradicted calls for skilled labour or other “help wanted signs” that encouraged many people to move abroad, he said.

Noting the legitimate concerns receiving countries had about the increasing numbers of illegal immigrants, he stressed, however, that with birth rates continuing to decline and populations in the West ageing more rapidly than ever, many developed nations would actually need immigrants in the coming years in order to meet the demands for increased productivity and services.

“So the complex debate that’s going on right now is that if you liberalize the policies -– basically open the front door -– will you be able to close the back door”, he said.  “Our guess is perhaps not, because as more people come in through the front door, many of them will bring in their families, relatives and friends.”  Moreover, the competitive interests between businesses and general civil society would continue as large corporations would keep pressing their respective governments to allow in more and more people.

Mr. Chamie was speaking to correspondents today ahead of the Secretary-General’s address to the European Parliament in Brussels tomorrow.  Mr. Annan, who will receive the Andrei Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, is expected to focus on the upcoming enlargement of the European Union and how it, and the wider international community, can better manage border crossings and maximize the many real benefits of migration and minimize the difficulties that it could cause.

Mr. Chamie said that today the number of people residing outside their country of birth stood at an all time high of 175 million, more than double the number a generation ago.  And while the vast majority were making contributions to their host countries, the loss of human resources in countries of origin was a very serious consequence.  At the same time, influxes of migrants, who brought their own customs and traditions, could give rise to political, economic or social tensions in destination countries.

“Migration is a global phenomenon”, he said, citing the demographic dimensions of international population movements, which would certainly have an effect on the social-economic and political futures of countries facing birth rate crises -– fertility levels well below replacement levels -- such as Japan and most of Europe that would soon be faced with severe labour shortages.  “This has significant implications and consequences for pension schemes, health care, education and housing, as well”, he added.

On the other side of the coin, there were many “sending country” populations, which continued to grow relatively rapidly, leaving many working-age citizens without the ability to find gainful employment.  As a consequence, scores of skilled and unskilled youth were seeking opportunities in wealthier countries, especially in Europe and North America.  But the supply of migrants who could legally leave their countries far outstripped the demand of many receiving countries.

He told reporters that immigrants today tended to be less educated and lower skilled than the populations of their receiving countries, which raised concerns about cultural integrity, integration and assimilation.  He also noted that the  11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States had also affected the overall perception of migrants, and had placed immigration, refugee and asylum policies under heavy pressure.  Illegal flows were increasing, with about

8 million to 10 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, with about the same number in Europe at this time.

Along with “brain drain”, another issue that was being heavily debated was that of remittances, as billions of dollars were now being sent back to receiving countries, in some cases, outstripping the prescribed official development assistance (ODA).  He also stressed that the trafficking of migrants had become a “lucrative but troubling business”, with some estimates that criminal networks charged up to $30,000 per person to smuggle immigrants into other nations or across borders.

Here he noted that the Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime -- on the smuggling of migrants by land, air and sea –- had entered into force today.  “This is a landmark step in this area”, he said, adding that it would also enhance other United Nations efforts to address the situation of migrants.  In that regard, he also drew attention to a resolution adopted by the General Assembly last month on the holding of a high-level dialogue in 2006 devoted to international migration and development. 

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