Media play important role in promoting safe, equal migration: Seminar
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Viet Nam held an online seminar on July 13 to discuss measures to strengthen the role of the media in promoting safe and equal migration.
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| Border guards in northern Lai Chau province persuade people intending to migrate illegally to return to their homes. (Photo: VNA) |
According to Luong Thanh Quang, deputy head of the Department of Consular Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that in the 2014-2019 period, each year, more than 100,000 Viet Namese labourers go abroad for work under fixed-term labour contracts, along with tens of thousands of students and people marrying foreigners.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of migrants travelling through official channels has reduced, but the illegal migration has still seen complicated developments despite border control measures, he noted.
He said that the provision of full and accurate information on issues related to migration will help promote legal, safe and orderly migration and prevent illegal migration as well as human trafficking, especially in women.
He stressed the significance of the role of the media, which has been stated in the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).
Agreeing with Quang, ILO Viet Nam Labour Economist Valentina Barcucci lauded the Viet Namese Government’s drastic directions in encouraging safe and equal migration, especially through the issuance of important legal documents, including a plan to implement the GCM.
She underlined the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in ensuring that the GCM implementation plan is approved and carried out.
She warned that women labourers are facing greater challenges and obstacles than men, along with a higher risk of suffering violence and sexual abuse as well as discrimination, during the migration process.
She called on media agencies to show more active and responsible engagement in ending violence against migrant workers.
At the event, representatives from the Foreign Ministry, ILO and UN Women, as well as media agencies, shared ideas to strengthen mutual support to create a network with close cooperation in exchanging information, thus contributing to carrying out the GCM implementation plan in Viet Nam.
(Source: VNA)
