On the occasion of International Migrants Day, and in a time when instability has become a defining feature of the world, leaving millions of migrants without a clear and predictable future, the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States (LAS) highlights the fact that the ongoing wars, armed conflicts, poverty, low levels of development, and climate change will continue to drive migration and refugee flows, with expected rising numbers in the future. To prevent future generations from embarking on dangerous journeys in search of safety or escaping poverty, it is essential to address the root causes of conflict, violence, and extreme poverty. Efforts must also focus on promoting sustainability, which should prioritize the interests of future generations and link immediate humanitarian aid with long-term developmental assistance.
In this context, LAS emphasizes the need to create a safer world for future generations, enhancing their resilience and protecting the most vulnerable groups, including migrants. It also stresses the importance of maximizing migrants' contributions to sustainable development in host and origin countries, combating racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and all forms of discrimination to foster social cohesion. Migrants should be seen as a bridge for communication and dialogue between cultures and societies, in line with global agreements and plans, particularly the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM), the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Pact for the Future. In this framework, LAS refers to the initiatives of the Kingdom of Bahrain, as outlined in the Declaration issued by the 33rd Arab Summit on May 16, 2024 on providing educational services to those affected by conflicts in the region, who have been deprived of their right to formal education as a result of the security and political situation and the repercussions of displacement, asylum and migration, and improving healthcare for those affected by conflicts in the region.
On this occasion, Her Excellency Ambassador Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary-General, Head of the Social Affairs Sector, highlighted the great role played by migrants in the development and strengthening of the global economy, and their contributions to enriching the cultures and societies to which they move, and pointed out that LAS urges the Arab communities residing abroad to launch and support initiatives that help migrants integrate into their new societies, and renews LAS call for these communities to unite their efforts and organize their ranks so that they are better able to defend their interests and support Arab issues, especially the Palestinian issue and uncover the truth of Israeli practices in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Lebanon and the broader Arab region.
