Co-development

A major shift is necessary in the approach that is dominating the current global discussion of migration and development: more emphasis is needed on pursuing human and social as well as economic development, and on ensuring that the benefits of more holistic approaches of that nature benefit not only countries of destination but countries of origin as well as the migrants themselves. It is important to advocate a different, holistic paradigm where migration is not the first, fast and forced answer to meet immediate economic needs, either on individual or national levels. Although the new focus of the international debate on the positive aspects of migration is welcomed, and the tremendous attention to the economic, labour and development benefits that migration offers to both sending and receiving countries is noted, migrants are not just economic entities or units of labour. Migrants are human beings, with families, with social natures, roles, contributions to make and rights. We must beware purely economic or utilitarian approaches to human beings.

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