PAM Permanent Observer to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva, Amb. Gerhard Putman-Cramer, addressed the 108th Session of the Council of the International Organisation for Migration, held on 28th November – 1st December 2017.
Some 596 delegates representing IOM Member States and Observers, UN representatives, academia, private sector, migrants and civil society attended the event.
Ambassador Putman-Cramer underlined the importance of parliamentary initiatives to ensure the effective national ratification and implementation of the various international conventions concerning migration governance, as well as the protection of migrants and refugees.
Therefore, he added, it is paramount to put in place regular and rights-protected migration channels and make greater efforts for integrating them in societies and economies, also in the view of preventing smuggling and human trafficking.
“Migrants’ integration is extremely important in ensuring stability and security throughout the Mediterranean region, and therefore, if we want to contain the terrorist threat, we must promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue”, Amb. Putman-Cramer said.
Amb. Putman-Cramer concluded his remarks by stressing the need for international cooperation and adoption of global standards, policy frameworks as well as parliamentary cooperation and solidarity on all aspects of migration.