Registration

Opening speeches:

• Mr. Abdelkrim Benoutiq, Minister Delegate in Charge of Moroccans living Abroad and Migration Affairs
• Ambassador Santiago Chavez Pareja, GFMD 2019 Chair, Vice Minister for Human Mobility, Republic of Ecuador (by video)
• Ambassador Götz Schmidt-B

Scene Setting presentations:

• Mr. Nelson Franklin Torres Zapata, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of the Republic of Ecuador, representing the 2019 GFMD Chair
• Mr. Leonard Doyle, Director, Media and Communication Division, and Spokesperson of the Director General of IOM
• UNAOC

Coffee break

Session I: How does the world perceive migration?

Moderator: Mr. Rachid Alaoui, Expert on minority discrimination issues related to media treatment

Guiding Questions:

• What factors drive and influence public perceptions on migration?
• What channels of communication and messengers do governments use to shape narratives on migration? How do they engage with traditional and new media?
• How can policymakers counter false or incorrect information that is being leveraged to propagate negative perceptions about migrants and migration?
• Do public perceptions about migration apply to migrants in general, or do they vary across different subtypes of migrants?
• To what extent does the media play a role in influencing attitudes to migration? How can governments engage constructively and effectively with the media in promoting realistic narratives on migration?

Speakers:

Ms. Latifa Akharbach, President, High Authority of Audiovisual Communication (HACA), Morocco

Mrs. Latifa Akherbach, appointed as President of the High Authority of the Higher Council of Audiovisual Communication, is currently and since February 2016, ambassador of His Majesty the King in Tunis. She was previously appointed Ambassador to Bulgaria and Macedonia in 2013. Between 2007 and 2013, she was appointed Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

Ms. Akherbach, who has taught in the media field for more than 20 years, was appointed director of the Higher Institute of Information and Communication (ISIC) in Rabat in 2003, a position she held until 2003. In 2007, she was appointed director general of the National Radio.
She has co-authored several books, including "Women and Media" and "Women and Politics". She has published several articles and studies on media and communication. She is a laureate of the Higher Institute of Journalism and holds a PhD in Information Sciences and Communication at Paris II University in 1988. She is married and has three children.

Dr. Mark Lopez, Director of Global Migration and Demography, Pew Research Center

Mark Hugo Lopez is director of global migration and demography research at Pew Research Center. He leads planning of the Center’s research agenda on international demographic trends, international migration, U.S. immigration trends and the U.S. Latino community. He is an expert on immigration globally and in the U.S., world demography, U.S. Hispanics and Asian Americans. He was previously the Center’s director of Hispanic research, and prior to that served as the associate director.

Lopez received his doctorate in economics from Princeton University. He is the co-editor of “Adjusting to a World in Motion: Trends in Global Migration and Migration Policy” and an author of reports about the Hispanic electorate, Hispanic identity and immigration. Lopez frequently appears in U.S. and international media in both Spanish and English.

Ms. Danila Chiaro, Project Manager, EUROMED Migration IV, ICMPD Regional Coordination Office for the Mediterranean

Ms. Chiaro is currently Project Manager at ICMPD, in charge of the program EUROMED Migration IV, which is based in the ICMPD Regional Coordination Office for the Mediterranean in Malta. Before, she worked at the European Commission (DG DEVCO) as program manager, in the thematic unit on Migration and Asylum and previously at the geographical unit covering the Africa Caribbean and Pacific (ACP). She also worked previously as a consultant on EU funding mechanisms, providing technical assistance to national and regional authorities. She has a degree in International Relations and a Master’s degree in EU studies.

Ms. Lucila Rodriguez, Executive Director and Co-Founder, PorCausa

Lucila Rodríguez-Alarcón is the Cofounder porCausa foundation where she has been General Director for the last 3 years. She began her professional carrier in Brussels where she directed a lobbying consultancy for 6 years. She was Communication Director of Oxfam in Spain and Latin America and Head of Press and Communications for the Madrid City Council. She is the Director of the section Con M de in the newspaper Publico which specializes in migrations, and has collaborated with El Pais or The Guardian, among others.

Mr. Reda Ez-Zriouli, on behalf of the young people on the move

Aged 18, Mr. Reda Ez-zriouli has just graduated with a high honors degree. His dynamism is illustrated by his participation in numerous conferences and debates and his commitment to defend the rights of the child. In particular, the rights of young migrants, who, according to Reda, still suffer from a restriction of their fundamental rights.

Reda is a young leader who is trying to make a change in his community. He is also interested in social entrepreneurship and has participated in numerous national and international events (World Merit Council Summit, Reading and Leadership Summer Forum, Injazz Al Maghreb). Named as the best young Moroccan entrepreneur in 2017 (at MYSEC), Reda is vice-director of a 'Start up' which aims to help young migrants to continue their studies in the best conditions. In addition, he participated in the educational competition on migration organized by the Ministry of National Education in which he 'won the prize for best writing in Kenitra. On the other hand, he was elected best delegate of the United Nations Model (A-Mun 2019) whose subject was on migration. His skills were illustrated during his participation in the GFMD, serving as a "panel speaker" during the plenary "Africa, a continent in motion."

Dr. Sarah Lamort, Refugee Status Determination Officer, UNHCR

Sarah Lamort has been working in the area of refugee protection for the last 10 years. She joined UNHCR in 2014 working as a Legal/Protection Officer. She worked in Turkey, Egypt, Brazil and Morocco. She assumes the function of Refugee Status Determination Officer with UNHCR Morocco since 2017.

Before joining UNHCR, she worked for various NGOs in France and Turkey. She holds a Master degree in Human Rights Law and a PhD in Public Law from Lyon University in France. Her PhD thesis on the European Union Asylum Law and Policy received the 2015 Award of Le Monde de la Recherche Universitaire. Her main publication is entitled « Europe, Terre d’Asile? » Paris : Presses Universitaires de France, 2016

Mr. Mohamed Elkaza, Journalist of the Egyptian daily newspaper Al Ahram.

Mr. Elkaya, works as assistant editor in chief of Egypt's Al-Ahram newspaper. He works on Journalism investigations specializing in immigration issues.

Six years ago, he conducted investigations and reports on migration from Egypt, Italy, France and Lebanon, having numerous television interviews on migration issues.

Discussion

Session II: Migration and data: how to rethink migration and renew the narratives?

Guiding Questions:

• How much do facts and scientific evidence really matter in shaping public perceptions on migration?
• Which indicators are key for measuring the impact of communication on public attitudes towards migrants and migration? What challenges do governments and researchers face in collecting data and evidence in relation to those indicators?
• How do governments develop messaging on migration? Who is involved?
• How can the private sector support governments in their efforts to strengthen the evidence base and project the positive aspects of migration to the wider 3 public? Moderator: Mr. Kamal Lahbib, President of Alternatives Maroc (FMAS)

Speakers:

Mr. Alexander da Costa, Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Permanent Representative, Embassy of The Gambia to The Swiss Confederation and Permanent Mission of The Gambia to the UNOG

Mr. Alex da Costa is a Gambian and a highly developed individual with business and consultancy skills spanning over 35 years in Europe and in Africa. Alex’s experience includes operational and strategic management responsibilities in private, public and “third” sector (public/private) organisations. He is an experienced Diplomat with a demonstrated history of working in the government relations industry. He is skilled in International Relations, Management, Public Speaking, and Public Relations.

Alex is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations UK, Vice President of The Public Relations Association, The Gambia, a member of The Gambia Press Union (GPU), a member of The National Union of Journalists (NUJ), UK and a member of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). He has served in various capacities such as a member of the Marketing Committee of The Gambia Football Association and Interim Chairman of the National Sports Council - The Gambia, to mention a few. In addition, Alex was the Head of Media, Information & Technology for the African Union (AU) Banjul 2006 Summit at the Coordinating Secretariat.

Dr. James Dennison, Research Fellow, European University Institute, Florence, Observatory of Public Attitudes to Migration

Dr. James Dennison is a Research Fellow at the Migration Policy Centre of the European University Institute in Florence, where he leads the Observatory of Public Attitudes to Migration. His research interests include attitudinal formation, political behavior and advanced research methods. His scientific research has appeared in numerous international journals and books and he regularly appears in international media and offers evidence to international organisations and governments. He received his PhD in Social and Political Sciences from the European University Institute in 2017. He has previously held positions at the University of Oxford and University of Sheffield, where he taught quantitative methods. In 2019-2020 he will be based at Harvard University's Center for European Studies while continuing his work at the Migration Policy Centre. He tweets @JamesRDennison.

Dr. Jasper Dag Tjaden, Data and Survey Officer, Global Migration and Data Analysis Center (GMDAC)

Dr. Jasper Dag Tjaden is the head of the Impact Evaluation Unit within IOM’s Global Migration Data Analysis Centre based in Berlin. Jasper’s team has been coordinating several large scale evaluations including evaluations of information campaigns aiming to raise awareness of the risks of migration. Jasper has been working in the field of migration for nine years including in previous positions at the World Bank and the Migration Policy Group. He holds a PhD in Quantitative Social Sciences from the University of Bamberg, Germany, and the City University of New York (CUNY) and a master degree from London School of Economics and Political Science.

Mr. Rodolfo Córdova Alcaraz, Vice President, Impacto Social Metropolitan Group, Mexico

Mr. Alcaraz is Vice President for Impacto Social Metropolitan Group, an agency that directly impacts social change and builds the capacity of organizations that drive it. Half of its work is designing and implementing campaigns and initiatives that change attitudes, behaviors, practices and policies. The other half is helping organizations develop effective strategic plans and powerful brands, raise funds, and build cultures that better help them drive social change.

He has been working for the past 15 years in strategic communication, strategy development and organizational development. During these years, he has been fostering social impact to bring long lasting change in Central and North America and Europe by working on public policies to guarantee the rights of migrants, refugees and children. He has worked for the IOM in 5 different countries, for the World Bank and several not for profit organizations in the Americas and Europe. Also, he has been involved in the GFMD since 2010, when Mexico chaired the Forum.

Mr. Toufik Cherradi, Président de la Fédération Marocaine du Bâtiment et des Travaux Publics (FNBTP).

Mr. Cherradi has a doctorate degree in civil engineering from the University of Paris-Orsay. He has been the General Manager of a construction company (Raja binaa) since 1986. He is chairman of the Training Commission of the National Federation of Construction and Public Works (FNBTP) since 2006. He is also a member of the executive board of the CGEM branch observatory.

Mr. Cherradi has actively contributed to several structuring projects that focus on employment and vocational training in Morocco: National Certification Framework, Vocational Training Strategy 2021, Employment Strategy, Multilevel Governance of Training, Validation of professional experience, etc. He is also the coordinator of the project « Partenariats de formation germano-marocains pour L’orientation professionnelle des adolescents au Maroc» "funded by GIZ which includes a component that concerns the integration of young sub-Saharan migrants.

Ms. Hataichanok Puckcharern, Inspector of Statistics, National Statistics Office, Thailand, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society

She has been working in TNSO more than 25 years and was a sampling expert for the sample survey including the Migrant Survey in the country.

Ms. Puckcharern was a Director of the Statistics System Management Division which responses for the Statistical System in the country, including the migrant data. She is also a lecturer in the Universities.

Discussion

Summary of the first day.

Session III: Building balanced narratives on migration and the contribution of migrants to sustainable development

Guiding Questions:

• What are the facts and evidence from research about the multiple contributions of migrants and migration to sustainable development? (To what extent could such positive interlinkages be useful to influence the migration discourse?
• What effective strategies and practices have governments identified to a) react to polemical debates and excessive negative public attention on migrants; and b) lower the emotional level of domestic immigration debates and focus the attention on long-term issues (e.g. social cohesion, labour shortages)?
• Please share concrete examples of best practices of communication efforts, depicting migrants as agents for sustainable development. What lessons can be learnt from these examples? What ways of communication/visualization are particularly appealing?
• In what specific ways could civil society, business, media and the youth contribute to building a balanced narrative on the contribution of migrants to sustainable development? Moderator: Ms. Paola Pace of IOM Tunisia 4

Speakers:

Hon. Ms. Sarah P. Arriola, Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, Philippines

Sarah Arriola is presently the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines. As the undersecretary, her duties involve: active participation in international and global conferences and coordination with government agencies, reviews utilization of assistance-to-nationals (ATN) and Legal Assistance Funds provided for distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), as well as initiation of comprehensive labor migration programs with government agencies and global partners, such as the International Organization for Migration and other UN agencies.

Prior to her post at the DFA, she served as the Chief of Staff of the Office of the Majority Leader and concurrently Chief of the Investigation Service of the Senate Blue Ribbon Oversight Office Management, as well as the Committee Secretary of the Senate Committee on Rules.

She is also a Professorial Lecturer 1 of the Philippine Judicial Academy and has been a faculty member of Ateneo Law School for over a decade. She specializes in Administrative Law, Law on Public Officers, and Fundamentals of Thesis Writing where she serves as a Member of the Thesis Committee.

Usec Arriola obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo Law School in 1998 and her LLM in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex in 2004, where she was a University of Essex and British Chevening scholar. She took Bachelor of Arts in Communication at the Ateneo de Manila University College of Arts and Sciences in 1993.

Ms. Kristy Siegfried, UNHCR

Ms. Kristy Siegfried is a senior writer and editor of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). She compiles The Refugee Brief, UNHCR’s daily news digest. Prior to joining UNHCR, she was the Global Migration Editor for IRIN News (now The New Humanitarian). After more than a decade in Johannesburg, South Africa, she is now based near Oxford.

Ms. Eliza Marks, Project Technical Officer, ILO REFRAME

Ms. Eliza Marks is Technical Officer of the Regional Fair Migration Project in the Middle East (FAIRWAY). The project promotes policy change for fair migration; strengthens institutional mechanisms to support implementation of laws and policies; and reduces discriminatory attitudes and actions towards migrant workers. The project is operational in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates, and focuses on the sectors in which low-skilled migrant workers predominate – construction and domestic work. In this role, Eliza provides technical support in the areas of advocacy, media engagement, and the development of capacity building training programmes.

Eliza holds a BA in Development Studies (Hons Class I) from the University of New South Wales, and a MSc in Migration Studies from the University of Oxford, where she conducted research into citizenship, statelessness and mobility.

Ms. Marta Arias, Global Lead, Campaign on Migrant and Refugee Children, (#ChildrenUprooted), UNICEF

Ms. Marta Arias is the Global Lead of UNICEF’s campaign to raise awareness and increase worldwide support to migrant and refugee children, called #ChildrenUprooted. She has more than 20 years of experience on international development, human rights and social affairs in Spain, Latin America and now globally. Former Director of Campaigns for Oxfam in Spain and the Spanish National Committee for UNICEF, she joined UNICEF Headquarters in Geneva in 2015. Author of several publications and frequent spokesperson with TV, radio and written media.

Ms. Alexis Nadine Bautista, Project Coordinator, Migrant Forum in Asia

Alexis Nadine Bautista is a program officer in Migrant Forum in Asia. She helps coordinate and facilitate MFA programs in the region on the different focus areas such as documentation as evidence-based advocacy, health and migration, as well as women in migration, and is one of the focal persons of the Lawyers Beyond Borders (LBB)—MFA’s lawyers’ network of legal experts interested in advocating for the rights of migrant workers. She is one also one of the focal persons of MFA’s recruitment reform campaign through the Open Working Group on Labor Migration and Recruitment, a platform working on collective advocacy to bring about positive change in recruitment regimes.

In MFA, she is heavily engaged in the national, regional, and international processes on and related to migration, and is currently the point person for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM). Alexis continues to raise perspective and concerns in the different spaces and platforms around the region in relation to human rights, labor migration, and development. 

Discussion 

Session IV: Multi-stakeholder-partnerships to demystify prejudices about Migration

Guiding Questions:

• What efforts have governments taken to promote a balanced public discourse about migrants and migration? What frameworks and mechanisms have they established in order to improve public perceptions of migrants and migration? How have they been effective?
• How can governments and other concerned stakeholders work better with the media in promoting a more evidence-based communication about migrants and migration, and addressing misperceptions and misconceptions?
• What role could migrants and varied social partners (including schools, employers, businesses, academics, trade unions, civil society, etc.) play in demystifying prejudices about migrants and migration?
• What partnerships can be formed – at the local, bilateral, regional and international levels – to try to improve overall global public perceptions about migrants and migration? Moderator: Mr. Mohammed Charef, Président of L’Observatoire Régional des Migrations: Espaces et Sociétés (ORMES)

Speakers:

Dr. Kathleen Newland, Migration Policy Institute

She is Senior Fellow and Co-Founder of the Migration Policy Institute and a Member of the Board of Trustees. Her work focuses on the governance of international migration, the relationship between migration and development, and refugee protection.

Prior to MPI’s establishment in July 2001, Ms. Newland co-directed the International Migration Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment. Earlier, she was a Lecturer in international political economy at the London School of Economics (1988–92) and Special Assistant to the Rector of the United Nations University (1982–87). She has worked as a consultant to the International Labor Organization, the International Organization for Migration, the Office of the Secretary General of the United Nations, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the World Bank.

Mr. Mohamed Boussraoui, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), Steering Committee member, GFMD Mayors’ Mechanism

Mr. Boussraoui is the Director of Programmes at the United Cities and Local Governments UCLG, since its creation in 2004. Mr. Boussraoui brings about 29 years of expertise in urban planning, decentralised cooperation, and local governance in international organizations.

Director of Programmes in charge of Water, Resilience and migration issues; he is also responsible for institutional relations with Sub Saharan Africa and Arab World Members.

He graduated in 1985 from University of Paris XII, in urban planning and urbanism and he obtained his post graduate diploma in Urban Environment from Architecture School of Paris.

Ms. Juliana P. Dobos, Deputy Director, Multilateral Engagement, International and Intergovernmental Relations for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Ms. Juliana Dobos has worked for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada since August 2010. Since March 2017, she has been the deputy director responsible for Canada’s engagement with a variety of multilateral fora, on migration related issues.

Between 2007 and 2010, she worked for the Department of Canadian Heritage, on Canadian Government initiatives promoting development through sport (2007-2009) and on policies and programs related to youth (2009-2010).

Before joining Canada’s federal public service in 2007, Juliana worked for UNICEF in Rabat and her responsibilities included planning, monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF’s programs in Morocco (2005-2007).

Ms. Dobos obtained her undergraduate degree from the Babes Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and her Master of Arts in International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Ottawa, Canada.

Ms. Clara Skupien, Project Officer, International Catholic Migration Center, Coordinator of the GFMD Civil Society

Clara Skupien is a Project Officer for the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC). She is one of the main focal points for the GFMD Civil Society Days and works for the secretariat of the Civil Society Action Committee. Both projects are hosted by ICMC.

Ms. Skupien helps ensure a smooth communication and coordination between civil society organizations at the global, national and local level, internally as well as with other stakeholders.

With a background in international history and experience in journalism, communications and international coordination, she has worked directly with migrants in Geneva and for the Swiss government in New York.

Ms. Mbemba Florelle Vera, on behalf of the young people on the move

Mrs. Mbemba Florelle Vera lives in Rabat, Morocco as a refugee since 2016. She is representing the young people on the move and is delighted to share her experiences, opinions and ideas during the development of this workshop. She is currently studying Arabic.

Ms. Maria Teresa Rojas, Director of programs for the Open Society Foundations’ International Migration Initiative.

She has previously held several other positions at the Open Society Foundations’ International Migration Initiative, which she established as the founding director in 2010, including director of the US immigrant rights portfolio, deputy director of the US Justice Fund, and associate director for communications.

Ms. Rojas has a varied background in management and communications in the nonprofit and public sectors, and has successfully structured and managed start-up operations. As the first general manager of New York City’s Crosswalks Television. Network, she built five municipal cable channels from the ground up and instituted unprecedented television coverage of local government proceedings. She has been a television producer, radio correspondent, writer, and a New York Emmy nominee.

Rojas holds an MA in public administration from Baruch College, the City University of New York, and a BA in communications from Rutgers University. She is currently a member of the Advisory Committee of the Andrew & Renata Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law at the University of New South Wales, and a member of the Migration Advisory Board of the International Organization for Migration. 

Discussion

Lunch

Closing session:

Highlights of the Thematic Workshop

• Dr. Kathleen Newland, Migration Policy Institute

Closing Remarks

• Mr. Ahmed Skim Director of Migration Affairs, Morocco
• Mr. Nelson Franklin Torres Zapata, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of the Republic of Ecuador, representing the 2019 GFMD Chair 

GFMD Troika Meeting

(Open to Troika Members only)

GFMD Steering Group Meeting

(Open to SG Members only)

Roundtable Team Consultations for Sessions 1.1, 2.1 and 3.2

Roundtable Team Consultations for Sessions 1.2, 2.2 and 3.1

2^nd Meeting, GFMD Friends of the Forum

ILO Room II
(R3-Sud)

GFMD Troika Meeting

GFMD Steering Group Meeting (morning session)

Room XXII, Building E, 1st Floor, Palais des Nations, Geneva

GFMD Steering Group Meeting (afternoon session)

Room XXII, Building E, 1st Floor, Palais des Nations, Geneva

GFMD Friends of the Forum Meeting

Room XXI Building E, 1st Floor, Palais des Nations, Geneva