UN held virtual discussion on migration with school students

KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 25

A virtual discussion was held with selected Nepali secondary level students, UN resident coordinator and heads of International Organisation for Migration and UNDP in Nepal on ‘Migration and Sustainable Development in the Context of COVID-19’, yesterday.

The event marked Sustainable Development Goals action week, from September 19-27, coinciding with UN General Assembly High-level Week and UN’s 75th Anniversary, that have been celebrated through dialogues and discussions reaching out to people including youths across the world. Congratulating the winners and thanking all young participants, Valerie Julliand, UN resident coordinator said, “Providing space for young people to express their views and thoughts on migration and sustainable development goals is important. I found their insights informed, thoughtful and inspiring.

What an excellent way to mark the 5th Anniversary of SDGs.”

“We must remember the incredible contribution that Nepali migrants working abroad make to their families, communities and their country as well as their destination countries. Nepal and Nepali migrants have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. We support the government in addressing the needs and concerns of migrant workers, particularly those most vulnerable,” she said. Prior to the event, following calls for registration targeting students from all over the country for the selection round of an elocution competition, a total of 62 entries (52 female and 20 male) from six provinces were received. A judge panel consisting of IOM, UNDP and an English language teacher picked up the best three speakers for the event.

The young student speakers expressed their delight for the opportunity to participate in the SDGs-related dialogues and demanded that migration need to be managed well so everybody – the migrants, their family, host country, as well as sending country benefit from it. “Due to the pandemic, job opportunities both in destination countries and at home have shrunk making migrants and communities more vulnerable to unsafe migration, human trafficking and psychosocial distress,” said Lorena Lando, IOM chief of Mission for Nepal.

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