South Africa, October 5th, 2009.- The Human Development Report 2009 was launched simultaneously in Bangkok (global) and in South Africa (African Region), was officially launched in South Africa by the Honourable Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr. Malusi Gigaba) and the UNDP Regional Director for Africa (Dr. Tegegnework Gettu). The launch was attended by broad spectrum of stakeholders from government, private sector, civil society organization, academia, the Press and the development partners.
Please find below the outcome document of the regional launch of the 2009 Human Development Report (HDR), entitled "Overcoming Barriers: Human Mobility and Development", held in Johannesburg, South Africa, 5 October 2009.
Bangkok, October th, 2009.- Allowing for migration-both within and between countries-has the potential to increase people's freedom and improve the lives of millions around the world, according to the 2009 Human Development Report launched here today. We live in a highly mobile world, where migration is not only inevitable but also an important dimension of human development. Nearly one billion-or one out of seven-people are migrants. The Report, Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development, demonstrates that migration can enhance human development for the people who move, for destination communities and for those who remain at home.
"Migration can be a force for good, contributing significantly to human development," says United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark. "But to realize its benefits, there needs to be a supportive policy environment as this Report suggests."
Indeed, migration can raise a person's income, health and education prospects. Most importantly, being able to decide where to live is a key element of human freedom, according to the Report, which also argues that large gains in human development can be achieved by lowering barriers and other constraints to movement and by improving policies towards those who move.
However, migration does not always bring benefits. The extent to which people are able to gain from moving depends greatly on the conditions under which they move. Financial outlays can be relatively high, and movement inevitably involves uncertainty and separation from families. The poor are often constrained by a lack of resources, information and barriers in their new host communities and countries. For too many people movement reflects the repercussions of conflict, natural disaster or severe economic hardship. Some women end up in trafficking networks, lose significant freedoms and suffer physical danger.
This is the latest publication in a series of global Human Development Reports, which aim to frame debates on some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity, from climate change to human rights. It is an independent report commissioned by UNDP. Jeni Klugman is the lead author of the 2009 Report.
