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ISSUE 5: April-June & ISSUE 6: July-September

A newsletter focusing on the positive changing environment taking place in Africa

www.amadpoc.org

SPECIAL REPORT: Human Trafficking: The Rise and Rise of Modern Day Slavery in East Africa

LONG RAINS IN KENYA: Is it a blessing or a curse for disabled persons?

MIGRATION INTO CAMPUS: Challenges and opportunities that await new students...

read more of these stories and others inside...

Africa on the Move...

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Africa on the Move...April-June/July-September 2013

Inside this Issue

Page 2Recently Held Events

Page 3Message from the Executive Director

Page 3New Faces at AMADPOC

Page 4Editor’s Message

Page 5Human Trafficking in East Africa: The Rise and Rise of Modern Day Slavery

Page 7Rains: A Cursed Blessing for the Disabled

Page 10The African Watchtower

Page 12Youth Voices on Migration and Development by Francis Koomson

Page 14Migration into Campus and the Challenges that Await New Students

Page 16Book Review: Migration in the Service of African Development: Essays in Honour of Professor Aderanti Adepoju

Previously Held Events• Theconference,Regional Responses to Child Trafficking: Known Issues, Emerging Trends, washeldon26th

April2013inArusha,Tanzania.• ThePanAfricanNetworkinDefenseof MigrantRights(PANiDMR)organisedtheAfrican Regional

Forum on Migration, Development and Human Rights inNairobi,Kenyafrom24thto25thMay2013.• On5thJune2013,theGenevaGraduateInstituteheldaseminarforEastAfricanCommunity(EAC)

officersinKigali,Rwanda.• TheConsultative Forum on Refugee Protection,organisedbyAmnestyInternational,washeldon24th

June2013inNairobi,Kenya.• TheInternationalOrganisationforMigration(IOM)releasedits2013WorldMigrationReporton18

September2013attheSouthernSunHotelin2013.Theeventwasattendedbyhighrankinggovern-mentofficials,diplomatsandstakeholdersfromvariousNon-GovernmentalOrganisations(NGOs).

• FromOctober3-42013,governmentscongregatedinNewYorkfortheUnitedNationsHighLevelDialogueonMigrationandDevelopment,whichwasthesecondoneof itskind.

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A Message from the Executive Director The African Migration and Development Policy Centre (AMADPOC) has been making stable progress since its inception five years ago. Its mouthpiece, Africa on the Move, continues to keep readers abreast of de-velopments in migration and development nexus in Africa and beyond. Alongside the newsletter is a vibrant social media in terms of the Africa Migration Insider, a blog that enables people with varying backgrounds to partake of lively discourse on equally varied aspects of migration. At long last, Africa is now receiving a balanced treatment of migration-de-velopment interrelations as articulated by enthusiasts, experts, learners and those who themselves have ever migrated and/or have been affected by migration in one way or another. Ongoing events at AMADPOC authenticate the importance of Africa on the Move. The centre has just completed a study on ‘Rural Out-Migration to

Urban Uncertainities in Kenya’ whose findings will be highlighted in subsequent issues of the newsletter as well as other publications. It has extended the study to Ethiopia due for completion in February 2014; it has a fast-growing depository of migration material in its resource centre for its readers to access. AMADPOC’s researchers continue to make an impact at conferences where they present authoritative works among a galaxy of counterparts from different parts of Africa and other world regions. The centre has also been extending through partnerships with universities and research as well as training institutions in and outside of Africa; all of them prepared to collaborate in various facets of work at the centre relating to Africa and the region among other world regions. Against this background, AMADPOC is appealing to funders and other well-wishers to support its cause and to help strengthen its role in Africa and beyond. The motto of AMADPOC, ‘together we are strong, apart we are weak,’ makes it buoyant in the world of migration that has numerous chal-lenges and opportunities.

Prof. John .O. Oucho,Executive Director, African Migration and Development Policy Centre (AMADPOC)

New Faces at AMADPOC

Mr. Kevin Omondi Onyatta, Editor, Africa on the Move & Content Manager, the Africa Migration InsiderMr.KevinOmondiOnyattaisatrainedjournalistandafinalistfromtheUniversityof Nairobi.HejoinedAMADPOCinitiallyasacommunicationInternhavingworkedasaSportsEditoratNairobiDigest,anonlinenewspaper.Currently,Mr.Onyattaisinchargeof communicationwithAMADPOC,headingtheAfrica Migration Insiderblogandeditorof Africa on the Move.

Ms. Beryl Odiembo, Finance OfficerMs.BerylOdiemboisthenewfinanceofficeratAMADPOC.Sheholdsanundergrad-uatedegreeinBusinessAdministrationwithamajorinmanagementfromtheUni-versityof EasternAfricanBaraton.Herroleswillincludeassistinginbudgetingandprovisionof financialsupporttotheorganisationunderthesupervisionof theExecu-tiveDirector.

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Dear ReadersItismypleasuretopresentyouwiththefifthandsixtheditionsof

Africa on the Move, anewsletterof theAfricanMigrationandDevel-opmentPolicyCentre(AMADPOC)thatprovidesthelatestnewsre-latingtothemigration-developmentnexusinAfricaandbeyond.Asiscustomarywithpreviousissues,theseeditionsaimtosatisfyreaders’appetiteformigrationanddevelopment-relatedissuesthataffectAfri-cansincludingthoseinthediaspora.Theissuesprovidereaderswithanunderstandingof thehumantraf-

fickingmenacethathascontinuedtoflourishwithintheEastAfricanregiondespiteeffortstostemit.OurinterviewwithMs.SofiaRajab,theProjectManagerfortheCounterTraffickinginPersonsProjectattheCRADLE-TheChildren’sFoundation,pinpointsthelapsesinthecounter-traffickingeffortsandoffersprobablesolutions.Another story covered is the recent long rains in Kenya between

MarchandMay2013,whichwasgoodnewsforfarmerswhohopedtoregisterimprovedcropyield.However,therainscausedfloodsthatdisplacedover99,000peoplewhohadtorelocateorberelocatedtosaferareas.Africa on the Movefocusesonthemiseryinflictedbythefloodsondisabledpersonswhohadtomovefromflood-affectedregions.Furthermore,theseissuesusherintheAfrican Watchtower, whichisasectionthatrecapseventsthathave

putAfricainthespotlightaspertainstomigrationanddevelopmentlinkage.Here,youcanget-up-to-datewiththecontroversysurroundingthecessationof RwandeserefugeestatusinAfrica,Kenya’splannedrepa-triationof SomalirefugeesaswellastheLampedusaboattragedy.Of course,youcancatchupwithmoreof thesestoriesonourblog,theAfrica Migration Insider atwwwamadpocinsider.blogspot.com.Othersectionstolookforwardtoincludeabookreviewof Prof.AderantiAdepojutitled,‘Migration in the

Service of African Development: Essays in Honour of Prof. Aderanti Adepoju’;andafeaturestoryontheintriguesandopportunitiesthatawaitstudentswhomigratetocampusfromfar-flungplaces.

AOMprovidesaplatformforpeopleof differentbackgroundstoengagewithreadersthroughguestwrit-ing.BesuretoreadFrancisKoomson’sstoryonthoughtsof theyouthonmigrationanddevelopment.Itisproof thattheyouth’svoicesonmigration-developmentnexusisgettinglouder.Mr.KoomsonistheactingExecutiveDirectorfortheYoungPeopleWeCare(YWPC)organisationbasedinAccra,Ghana.Wewelcomeyourcommentsonthenewsletterincludingyourviewsonwhatyouwouldliketoseecovered

insubsequentissues.YourresponsewillbebeneficialtoAMADPOCandwillbeinstrumentalincoveringimportantitemsforthenextnewsletter.TheissueswillbestrepresentyourknowledgeandinformationforsharingwithothersonmigrationanddevelopmentwithinandbeyondAfrica.Withoutfurtherado,Iinviteyoutoexploretheinnerdepthsof thefifthandsixthissueof AOM,whichyouwillfindtobeagoldmineof information.

Kevin Omondi Onyatta,Editor.

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OnDecember152010,policeinKinangoDistrictinKenyainterceptedalorryferrying110illegalim-migrantsfromEthiopiatoTanzania.Thepolicere-vealedthatthe immigrantswerehumantraffickingvictimsenroutetoSouthAfricahavingbeenluredbypromisesof betterjobs.

Two years later, various Kenyans returning homefromtheMiddleEastrecountedtheirordealsatthehandsof theiremployers.Theyallegedtohavebeensubjectedtosexualabuse,tortureandenslavementattheirplacesof work.

Elsewhere, in April 2013, the Standard newspapercarriedastoryof children—agedasyoungas12—whohadnecomevictimsof humantraffickingringsbefore findinganewhavenat theNairobiRemandHome.

Thesearenotisolatedcasesof humantrafficking;infact,humantraffickinghasbecomearampantviceinEastAfrica.TheU.S.StateDepartment’sTrafficking in Persons Report for 2012 putKenya,Rwanda,Bu-rundiandTanzaniaonthespotfornotdoingenoughtostophumantrafficking.Thereportexplainsthat

theEastAfricanregionhasbecomeanotorioustransit,sourceanddestinationforhumantraf-fickers.

Thecountrieswereputon the listof ‘watch-liststates,’whichmeanstheyrisksanctionsfortheir negligence in combating child traffick-ingwithintheregion.SofiaRajab,theProjectManager-CounterTraffickinginPersonsattheCRADLE-TheChildren’sFoundation believesthatsomegovernmentdepartmentstakeamoreproactiveroleinfightingthevicethanothers.

“Iknow,forexample,of thechildren’sdepart-mentinKenya,whichoftenidentifiesandreferscasesof childtrafficking.However,thegovern-

menthasalsobeenlaxinputtingmeasuresinplacefortheKenya2010CounterTraffickinginPersonsLawtotakeroot,”shestates.

ShecitesthefactthatCRADLEhadtosuetheKen-yangovernmentforittoenacttheCounterTraffick-inginPersonsActintolawasevidenceof thelatter’slaxitytowardshumantrafficking.Asaresultof thelawsuit, theactwasgazetted inOctober2010, twoyears after it had been passed by theNationalAs-sembly.

Theact tasks thegovernmentwithvariousobliga-tionstopreventhumantrafficking.Theobligationsinclude conducting public information campaignsagainst trafficking in persons and formulating acomprehensive and integrated program aimed atpreventingandsuppressinghumantrafficking.Thegovernment is also supposed to formulate mecha-nismstoscreenpeopleleavingorenteringKenyatodeterminewhethertheyaretraffickersorvictimsof trafficking.

UndertheCounterTraffickinginPersonsAct,anyperson convicted of human trafficking faces a 30-yearjailtermoraKsh.30millionfine.InTanzania,theAnti-TraffickinginPersonsActsetsamaximum10-yearjailtermfortraffickersorafineof Tsh.100

Human Trafficking in Africa: The Rise and Rise of Modern Day Slavery

Human trafficking continues to be a booming business despite criminalisation (Image Credit: www.politicoafrica.wordpress.

com)

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million ($62,200)orboth. Judging from the reportbytheU.S.StateDepartment,theseharshpenaltieshave not deterred traffickers from furthering theiractivitiesintheregion.

The2012 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons pro-duced by theUnitedNationsOffice onDrugs andCrime(UNODC)revealsthattwo-thirdsof traffick-ingvictimsinAfricawerechildren.Closetohalf of thevictimsonthecontinentencounteredforcedla-bourwhile36percentweresexuallyexploited.Ac-cordingtothereport,14percentof thevictimsof traffickingendedupaschildsoldiers,usedinritualsorforotherpurposes.

ThereportstatesthattheMiddleEastisanotoriousdestinationforpeoplewhohavebeentraffickedfromEastAsia,SouthAsiaandSub-SaharanAfrica.Itac-knowledgesthatEastAfricansconstituteasubstan-tialportionof victimsintheMiddleEast.TheU.S.State Department’s report corroborates this state-mentbyrevealingthatMiddleEastcountrieshavebecomepopulardestinationsforhumantraffickinginEastAfrica.

ItidentifiessecurityfirmsandlicensedrecruitmentagenciesinKampalaasconduitsforhumantraffick-erswhoknowinglyrecruitUgandanstoworkintheMiddleEastasdriversandsecurityguards.Someof thosewhomigratetotheregioninsearchof greenerpastures later complainof the slavery that charac-terisestheirstay.

In 2012, theKenyanmediawas awashwithheart-rendingstoriesof KenyanswhomigratedtoSaudiArabiaonlytoreturnwithphysical,mentalandemo-tionalscars.Accusingfingerswerepointedatthere-cruitmentagencies,whichhadrecruitedtheseKen-yanswithpromisesof goodjobswithattractivepay.

Ms. Rajab believes that such rogue recruitmentagenciesarebasicallytraffickers.“Theirrecruitmentactivitiesaretheirmodusoperandi.Theyknowing-lyrecruitgirlsforjobsthatdon’texist.Thesegirls’documentsareconfiscatedandthisdemobilises thevictim, which makes these agencies criminally re-sponsible,”sheexplains.

Inresponsetotheincreasingallegationsof mistreat-mentof KenyansintheMiddleEast,theKenyanfor-eignministryfrozetherecruitmentof itsnationalstoworkinSaudiArabia.Ms.Rajab,however,disap-provesof thisreactionarywayof dealingwithtraf-fickingasitinfringesoninternationallaw.

“Thegovernment shouldconverse itself with traf-ficking,migration andmigrant rights. You cannotsaynotomigrationorpreventpeoplefrompursuingemploymentinothercountries,”Rajabstates.

Sheurgesgovernments todevelopa standardpro-cedureforallembassiesabroadonhowtodealwithtraffickingvictimswhocometothemforassistance.In addition, she believes that the regulation of re-cruitmentagenciesisimportant.

“Thereshouldbeanadequatelegalframeworkthatallowsformonitoringmechanismstowatchovertherecruitment agencies. A framework for protectionof KenyansworkingabroadisalsoneededsuchthatembassiesknowwhatKenyansdointheirrespectivecountries and the details of their employers,” shestates.

Itmightseemthatthewordsof FrederickDouglas,aformerslaveandabolitionistleader,havecometruethrough human trafficking, which is modern dayslavery.Hestatedthat,“Theywouldnotcallitslav-ery,butsomeothername.Slaveryhasbeenfruitfulingivingherself names...anditwillcallitself byyetanothername;andyouandIandallof ushadbetterwait and seewhat new form this oldmonsterwillassume, inwhatnewskin thisold snakewill comeforth.”

Itwouldrequiremonumentaleffortsof everyone—justliketheabolitionists—toextinguishthisslaveryfromthefaceof theearth.

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Rains: A Cursed Blessing for the Disa-bled?

In its latest weather review, the Kenya Meteorological Department reveals that most parts of Kenya received enhanced rainfall between March and May this year. These areas include the North Western region, North East, North Coast, some parts of Southeastern low-lands and the Rift Valley. The positive impacts of these long rains were witnessed in Kitale, Eldoret, Kericho and Kisii, where residents experienced good crop per-formance. Water levels of the Sondu Miriu and Turkw-el hydroelectric power generating dams also increased during this period.

Sadly, the long rains were also a nightmare to Kenyans in areas like Tana, Nzoia, Nyando and the coastal strip. Instead of blessings in the form of improved crop yields, the rains brought curses in the name of floods and landslides. As at May 2 2013, the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) reported that 74 people had lost their lives while over 99,000 people were displaced.

Women and children were the most affected by this form of environmental migration resulting from the floods. One group, however, which was often over-looked by the mainstream media were persons with disabilities. This group has had to grapple with various challenges in the Kenyan society, such as, neglect, dis-crimination, abuse from the able-bodied and inequality. The onset of the floods only seemed to worsen living conditions for disabled persons living in the flood prone regions.

Nancy Nteere, the Monitoring and Evaluation Offi-cer at the Action Network for the Disabled (ANDY), believes that disabled persons face myriad challenges during natural disasters like floods, drought and fire. “Relocation to another area is usually a difficult pro-cess for persons with disabilities. They have to reha-bilitate themselves to their new environment, which is never easy for such people,” she states.

Unfortunately, acclimatising to new surroundings is not the only challenge that comes with migrating to a safer ground. Once settled in a new place, persons

The elderly lady’s situation mirrors the difficulties disabled people face when migrating away from flood-hit areas (Image Cred-it: www.colorfultimes.com)

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with disabilities must think of how to reconstruct their lives, which usually requires financial resources.

Ms. Nteere agrees that money is often the biggest impediment for disabled persons trying to reconstruct their lives in a new area. “Some of these people have taken loans to fund their farming projects or start business. When these projects are affected by floods or fires, it takes them back to level zero. Apart from thinking of how to find money to rebuild their lives, they also have to fret over repaying these loans,” Ms. Nteere explains.

She decries the fact that Kenyan financial institutions do not have financial schemes that cater for disabled persons. “We see banks coming up with financial schemes targeting the youth and women but sadly, we are yet to see one tailored for persons with disabilities. It makes it even harder to access financial services,” Ms. Nteere states.

ANDY has tried to help disabled persons who have been displaced by natural disasters by connecting them with organisations that can assist them rearrange their lives. According to Ms. Nteere, examples of these organisa-tions include Kibera Youth Business Trust, Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK), Equity Foundation and Jamii Bora. ANDY carries out several initiatives to improve the welfare of PWDs, such as, economic empowerment programmes, capacity development, sports and recreation, health and fitness as well as human rights programmes.

Such initiatives have come with various challenges and Ms. Nteere admits that certain people with disabilities have been the source of these tribulations. “Some of them do not want our assistance while others think that they deserve the finances outright. They do not think of the finances as a loan rather as something that belongs to them. Sometimes we experience financial constraints” she explains.

The 2008 Kenya National Survey for Persons with Disabilities revealed that 15% of PWDs were likely to be af-fected by the environmental factors on a daily basis. Sixty-five percent of these Kenyans regard the environment as a problem in their lives.

The Kenyan government has constantly come under scrutiny for its less-than-impressive response to natural di-

Pleasure and Pain: The recent heavy rains left a trail of destruction and production in equal measure (Image credit: www.en.trend.az)

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sasters. The country usually oscillates between floods and drought every year with the same repercussions being witnessed—deaths and movement of people from one area to another. According to an article by the Integrat-ed Regional Information Networks, the government’s disaster response is wanting because of the absence of a disaster management system. Katy Migiro, a journalist from the Thomas Reuters Foundation, blames the lack of a political goodwill for the failure to set up the National Disaster Management Authority.

With regards to disabled persons and floods, Ms. Nteere admits that the government should do more. “There is need to conduct a census of disabled persons living in flood prone regions. Areas chiefs could be helpful in this exercise,” she advises.

Such a census, according to her, would provide the authorities with the number of disabled persons to make special arrangements for their evacuation during natural disasters. “It is sad that we do not have statistics for persons with disabilities in Kenya. At least, with the Disability Act, persons with disabilities have been able to enjoy various benefits and privileges,” she states.

The perennial floods in Kenya come attached with problems like outbreak of diseases, loss of property, loss of lives and damages to dwellings. The last problem brings another headache in the form of resettling in a safer place. For disabled persons, this challenge is usually magnified owing to their physical or mental challenges. The long rains have subsided and ushered in relief for people in flood-affected regions. However, unless the govern-ment sets up a National Disaster Management Authority as promised by Deputy President William Ruto, such a relief is only temporary.

Enacting the National Disaster Management Authority may spare Kenyans from the hassles associated with migrating from flood-hit areas (Image Credits: www.ias-intl.org, www.rnw.nl, www.in2eas-tafrica.net and www.jica.go.jp)

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The African WatchtowerTrailing sights on the latest migration news on the continent

The African Watchtower is a recap of the top migration stories that occurred around the African continent and among its diaspora. You can get the full details of the story at wwwamadpocinsider.blogpspot.Rwanda’s Cessation Clause Storm

RwandawasinthenewsinJulyaftertheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees(UNHCR)invokedthecessationclausethateffectivelydiscontinuedtherefugeestatusof tensof thousandsof Rwan-deserefugeesaroundAfrica.Themovesparkedwidespreadsentimentsfromtherefugeeswithmanyof themcriticisingitbecauseof fearsof persecutionbytheRwandesegovernment.UNHCRandtheRwan-desegovernment,nevertheless,statethatover3millioncitizenshavereturnedhomebecauseof thepeacethathasprevailedinthecountrysincethe1994genocide.TheRepublicof Congo,Zimbabwe,MalawiandZambiaaretheonlyAfricanstatestohaveinvokedtheclausesofarasperUNHCR’srecommendation.

Repatriation Drama in Kenya

Meanwhile,inApril,KenyanPresidentUhuruKenyattaandhisSomaliacompatriotHassanSheikhMo-hameddevisedarepatriationplanformorethan560,000SomalirefugeesresidinginKenya.Theplan,borneoutof thefactthatSomaliacurrentlyenjoysrelativestability,facedresistancefrommanyrefugeeswhofeltthatthegovernmentwaskeenonrepatriatingthemforcefully.ForeignAffairsCabinetSecretaryhasassuredthemof anorderlyandsaferepatriation.However,herstatementcameastheNairobiHighCourtblockedthegovernmentfromapplyingforcetorepatriatethembecauseitwouldinfringeontheirdignity.Eastorwest,homeisbest;itseemsformanyof therefugees,Somaliamaynotyetbetheidealpictureof agoodhome.

Kenya’s brain drain and illegal immigrants

AreportbytheIntergovernmentalAuthorityonDevelopment(IGAD)revealedthatKenyawaslosingherprofessionalstoSADCstates,suchas,Namibia,SouthAfricaandBotswanaduetopoorlivingstandards.

Migrating back to Somalia seems to be a problem for some Somali refugees in Kenya (Image Credit: www.capitalfm.co.ke)

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The African WatchtowerTrailing sights on the latest migration news on the continent

ReleasedinAugust,thereport,titledMigration and Human in the East and Southern Africa,statedthatthiswasamammothhumanresourcelossforKenyawhereasitwasablessingfortheemigrantswhoweregrapplingwithunemploymentbackhome.

Inthesamemonth,thecountrywasbuzzingwithvarioussentimentsafterformerambassadortotheUnitedStatesMr.ElkannahOdemboclaimedthatanestimated200,000KenyanswereintheU.S.illegal-ly.However,hisfigureswerecontradictedbyaseniordemographerfromthePewResearchCenter—Mr.JeffreyPassel—whoestimatedthattherewere30,000illegalKenyanimmigrantsintheU.S.

Uganda’s refugee debacle

AcrosstheborderinUganda,ahumanitariancrisiswasbrewingasover60,000refugeesfromtheDem-ocraticRepublicof Congo(DRC)streamedintothewesterntownof Bundibugyo.TherefugeeswerefleeingheavyfightinginDRCbetweenUgandanrebelforce,theAllianceDemocraticForces(ADF)andtheDRCnationalforce.Uganda,accordingto2013figuresfromUNHCR,ishometomorethan190,000refugees.Thecountrywasalreadygrapplingwiththeinfluxof refugeesintoKisorowhilefleeingfightingbetweengovernmentforcesandtheM23rebelgroup.

Nigeria and Ghana raise storm over UK security bond

InlateJune,theUnitedKingdom’splantointroducesecuritybondsforvisitorsfromhighriskcountriesdrewafurorefromlawmakersinGhanaandNigeria.Thetwocountries,whosenationalswouldbeaffectedbythesecuritybond,termedthe£3,000securitybondfigureasexorbitantandaplantofleeceeagertrav-ellerstotheUK.However,TheresaMay—UK’sHomeSecretary—saidthebondwoulddiscouragecitizensfromthesecountriesformoverstayingintheUK.Visitorsfromthesecountries,whichtheUKdescribes

The influx of Congolese refugees into Uganda proved to be a thorn in her side (Image Credit: www.in2eastafrica.net)

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asnotoriousforprolongingtheirstay,wouldhavetodeposit£3,000uponentryintoUK.TheywouldberefundedtheamountwhentheyleavealthoughtheywouldforfeititshouldtheyusepublicutilitiesintheUK.

EAC States reprimanded by the U.S.

Themonthof JulysawEACpartnerstatescaughtinthecrosshairsof theUnitedStatesfortheirinef-fectiveeffortstocounterhumantraffickingintheregion.Withtheexceptionof Uganda,theU.S.StateDepartmentplacedKenya,Tanzania,RwandaandBurundionitsTier2Watchlist,whichputsthematriskof sanctions.TheStateDepartmentreportdetailedthehumantraffickingactivitiesthatoccurineachof thepartnerstates.

The Lampedusa Tragedy

Themonthof Octoberhasbroughtwithitunlimitedgrief theworldoverafterover300illegalAfricanimmigrantslosttheirliveswhentheirboatcapsizedintheMediterraneanSeaoff thesouthernItalianis-landof Lampedusa.Thevessel,overloadedwithover500people,caughtfirepromptingthepassengerstomovetooneside,whichcausedtheboattocapsize.Luckily,155immigrants,mostof themEritreans,wererescuedbyfishermenwhowereatseaatthetimeof thetragedy.LampedusahasbeenacommonentrypointforimmigrantsseekingtoenterEurope.

The African WatchtowerTrailing sights on the latest migration news on the continent

A Lampedusa resident pays tribute to victims of the Lampedusa boat tragedy at the scene of the accident. Mayor Giusi Nicolini labelled it ‘the biggest sea tragedy since World War 2’ (Image Credit: www. dailymail.co.uk)

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Youth Voices on Migration and Develop-ment

By Francis Koomson francis.koomson@ypwc.org

Between October 8 and November 8 last year, some 100 young participants from various parts of the world met to share their views on migration-related issues. The event, organised by NGO-YoungPeopleWeCarein partnership withUNICEFVoicesof Youth, TakingItGlobaland UNVolunteers,pro-vided them with a platform to discuss how migration has impacted them, their families and societ-ies.

Oneof thekeymessagesfromtheconsultativemeetingswasthatproper management of migration can bring developmental gains for countries of origin, destination and migrants.Theyoungparticipantsalsoemphasisedtheimportanceof promotingmigrants’socialandculturalrights—regardlessof theirmi-grationstatus—asanintegralstepinachievinghumandevelopment.“Educationinthehigherlevelisthemajorfactorthatcanincreasethepotentialof adevelopingcountrythatwillenhancethehumandevelop-ment,”stateda35-yearoldEthiopianparticipant.

Anotherkeymessagewasthesignificanceof enhancinginitiativesthatpromoteperceptionandstrengtheninstitutionstosafeguardtherightsof youngmigrantsandpromotethelinkbetweenmigration,(human)developmentwhilereducingxenophobiaanddiscrimination.

Theyagreedthatcirculatinglabourcouldbenefitcountriesof origin,destinationandmigrantsif migra-

Different Cultures, One Language: The youth are increasingly taking a proactive role in migration and development. (Image Credit).

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tioniswellmanaged.Forinstance,destinationcoun-tries receive economic benefits and address labourshortagesinkeyindustries,origincountriesreceiveremittances for development, and migrants utilisevariousemploymentopportunitieswhileexercisinggreatercontrolovertheirwageuse.

Participants, however, noted how migration of youngmigrantworkersnegativelyaffectscountriesof originsociallyandeconomically.Theypointedoutproblems,suchas,lossof skilledtalentandrevenuethatmigrantswouldhavecontributedhadtheynotmigrated. Nevertheless, whether migration createspositiveornegativeoutcomespartiallydependsonhowitismanagedandpoliciesenactedbyoriginanddestinationcountries.Forexample,labourmigrationpolicies of destination countrieswill negatively af-fect migrants and countries of originbecausetheydonot facili-tatethelatter’sproperintegrationintothejobsmarket.

“Acrystalclearpolicyonsendingandreceivingmigrantworkersisbeneficialforbothsendingandre-ceivingcountries.Onebecauseonthe part of the sending country,theirworkersareassuredof theirrights and privileges as workersabroadespeciallyonsalaries,daysoff,andvacationleave.Second,onthepartof thereceivingcountry,theirobligationandliabilityiswell-defined,andac-countabilityontheirpartisupheld,”statesa25-yearoldPhilippinemaleparticipant.

Participantshighlightedtheimportanceof recog-nising states’ shared responsibility topromote safeandlegalinternationalmigrationaswellascombat-ing irregular migration. Equally important is theneedtoenhancemigrantintegration,avoiddiscrim-ination and promote access to basic services, safe-guardmigrantrightsandprotectthemostvulnera-ble,includingchildren,adolescents,youthandgirls.Allwereinagreementthatsuchmeasureswoulden-able circularmigration topromote inclusivedevel-opment.

Oneequivocalmessageof theconferencewasthatinternationalmigrationisafeatureof contemporaryeconomic,socialandpoliticallife,drivenbyforcesof globalizationanddemography.Theworldwillcon-tinuetohavepeoplemigratingthus;policymakersshould factormigration intodevelopmentplanningstrategiestoenhancethepositivebenefitsof migra-tionwhilereducingthenegativeimpacts.Itinvolvesaddressing the root causes of migration, such as,youthunemploymentorunderemployment.

ANigerian participant in hismid-30s argued fortheremovalof migrationrestrictions.“Migrantsareusuallyfleeingfrompoverty,withthehopeof livingabetterlifeastheirdestinationisregarded“green-er.” If theymake it, itwill beof economicbenefi-

cial (sic) totheir families leftbehind.Migrationcannotre-place development strategiesof developing countries,” heexplains.

Participants bemoaned thefact that efforts to promotemigrant rights within thecontext of migration anddevelopment faces severalchallenges.Anexampleisthepublic’s continued negativeperception of migration andmigrants. Providing pre-de-parture information on mi-grant rights in origin coun-

triesandstrengtheningthecapacityof institutionsto promotemigrant rights and access to justice indestination countries were some of the solutionsproposedtoprotectmigrants.

Furthermore,lackof qualityandaffordableeduca-tionincountriesof origin,poverty,conflictsandmi-grants’ ignoranceabout their rights impedeeffortstomakemigration a choice instead of a necessity.Alsoaffectedareeffortstopromotemigrationforde-velopmentandprotectionof migrants.A29-yearoldBrazilianmaleinattendancedecriedthechallengesthat immigrants face in countries of destination.“Anotherproblemisthatnewimmigrants,especiallythat in loweducation level,usually can’t speak flu-ently the local language, and because of that they

“Migrants are usual-ly fleeing from poverty, with the hope of living a

better life as their destina-tion is regarded greener. If they make it, it will be of economic

beneficial (sic) to their families left behind. Migration cannot re-place development strategies

of developing countries,”— 30-year old Nigerian

participant.

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The youth proposed that governments should provide opportunities and incentives to facilitate return migration while reducing out-migration. Other proposals included strengthening international development cooperation between origin and destination countries, safeguarding social, cultural and political rights of migrants, creating awareness on safe migration in countries of origin and supporting initiatives that promote positive perceptions about migrants and migration.

Upcoming Events: • Call For Papers: AMADPOCherebyissuesacall forpaperfortheupcomingissueof theAfricanMi-

grationDevelopmentReviewfor2014.InterestedauthorsshouldcontactProf.EugeneK.Campbellateugensko@gmail.com.

• TheUniversalChildren’sDaywillbeheldon20November2013.Thedayisdedicatedtopromotingtheidealsandobjectivesof theDeclarationof theRightsof theChildandtheConventionontheRightsof theChild.

• TheInternationalDayforAbolitionof Slaverywillbemarkedon2December2013.Thedayfocusesontheeradicationof allformsof slavery,suchas,forcedmarriage,sexualexploitation,forcedrecruitmentof childrenintoarmedconflictsandtheworstformsof childlabour.

• On10December2013,theworldwillmarkHumanRightsDay,whichcelebrateshumanrights,high-lightsaspecificissueandlobbiesforthefullenjoymentof allhumanrights.Thisyear’sthemefocusesontherightsof allpersonsincludingpersonswithdisabilities,youth,women,minorities,indigenouspeopleandthemarginalized.

• 18December2013willbededicatedtomigrantsworldwidethroughtheInternationalMigrantsDay.Thisyear,UNmemberstates,NGOsandintergovernmentalorganizationsareencouragedtodissem-inateinformationaboutthefundamentalfreedomsandhumanrightsof allmigrants.Thedayisalsodedicatedtosharingof experiencesandformulatingwaysof ensuringtheprotectionof migrants.

Acknowledgements:

We would like to thank Sarah Risen-Robertson and the UNICEF Voices of Youth team for helping spread the word about this youth consultation; Bobby Chandra from YPWC and Anu from Taking It Global – the two forum administrators for technical support. Our thanks also goes to the moderators: Panchali Hettiarachchi (USA), Sahar Khan (Pakistan) and Blagorodna Apostolevska (Macedonia) who had put in a lot of hard work in preparing the discussions and putting opinions back summary reports. Special thanks go to Rhea Saab and Michael Boampong (UNICEF-USA) for their technical support and advice.

For more information contact:

• Sarah Risen-Robertson, Adolescent Development & Participation Unit (ADAP),voy@unicef.org

• Ausrine Pasakarnyte, UN Online Volunteer and Consultation Coordinator, ausrine.pasakarnyte@gmail.com

The writer is the Executive Director of Young People We Care (YPWC), a youth-led and youth-focused non-profit organiza-tion headquartered in Ghana with satellite offices in UK, Canada and USA. YPWC is passionate about sustainable develop-ment, realization of the MDGs and promotion of a culture of peace as well as universal human rights.

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Issues No. 5 & 6

Africa on the Move...April-June/July-September 2013

Migration into Campus and the Chal-lenges that Await New Students

WhatdoMercyKeino,DennisOmondiAdari,SarahAruwaandSusanWanjiruKihiuhaveincommon?Theyareuni-versitystudentswhoselivesendedtragically.Theirdemisewasun-doubtedlyacruelendtotheirdreamsof gradu-atingfromtheirrespec-tiveuniversitiesandachievingtheircareeraspirations.Ms.Kihiuisthelatestuniversitystu-denttoloseherlifeaf-terherdisfiguredbodywasdiscoveredinMaiMahiuinJulybymem-bersof thepublic.ThefirstyearstudentattheUniversityof Nairobihadgonemissingafterattendingachurchservice.Amiddleagedladyhasalreadybeenarraignedincourtonsuspicionof murderingthestudentbe-causeof havingaloveaffairwithherhusband.

Universityeducationisthehighestlevelof edu-cationinKenyaandthosewhojointhemgettoexperiencevariousbenefits.Mostimportantly,itisabridgeforonetoattaintheircareeraspirationsbygraduatingwithadegreethatisrelevanttotheirdesiredjob.Lifeinuniversityisalsoanopportunitytomeetpeoplefromotherareasanddevelopnewrelationships.Indeed,somelifelongpartnershipshavebeenbornoncampus.Universitylifecomesattachedwithanew-foundindependence.Studentschoosewhethertoattendlessonsornot,whentogethomeorwhattowear—awayfromthepryingeyesof theirparents.

Itbringstogetherstudentsfromallcornersof thecountry,suchas,Garissa,Bondo,BaringoandVoi

amongotherswhomigratetovariousuniversitiesinsearchof greenereducationalpastures.Universi-tyorcampuslife,however,isadouble-edgedswordthatcandevournewstudentswhoareunfamiliarwithitstwistandturns.Acounselloratalocaluniversityadmitsthatstudents,especially,fromtheruralareasfacemanychallengeswhentheyarriveoncampus.“Ruralstudentsareusuallygullibleandthinkthateveryonewhooffershis/herhelphasgoodintentions.Thiscouldbeattributabletolessexposure,”thecounsellorexplains.

Furthermore,thecounselloradmitsthatfemalestudentsaremorevulnerablethanthemaleonesbe-cause,“forgirls,itisworse;thereistheriskof rapeandbeingrecruitedunknowinglyintoprostitutionrings.Wehavehadstoriesof first-yearstudentswhohavebeendupedbyfriendsintostayinginbrothelsinthenameof sharingahouse.”

New Maseno University students register at the university’s main hall (Image credit:www.

maseno.ac.ke)

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Issues No. 5 & 6

Africa on the Move...April-June/July-September 2013

ThesesentimentsbringtomindtherecentsagainMombasainvolving11Kenyangirls,someof whomwerestudents,whowerechargedincourtwithengaginginillicitsexactivities.

TheHigherEducationLoansBoard(HELB)hasbeenasourceof fundsforuniversitystudentsthroughtherepayableloansitprovides.Theinitialperiodsof thesemesterareusuallylikeChristmaswherestu-dents,especiallythoseadmittedthroughtheJointApplicationBoard(JAB)system,usetheirHELBloanstoindulgeinvariousluxuries.Thecounsellor,whohasworkedextensivelywithnumerousuniversitystudents,disagreesstatingthatthemoneyisneverenoughforstudentsfromruralareas.“TheperceptionisthattheHELBloanissufficientenoughtosustainsomeoneoverthecourseof asemester.Mostof themareinforarudeshockwhentheydiscoverthattheyhavelittlemoneyleftafterpayingschoolfeesandac-commodation.Withnoonetohelptheminthecity,someof thempackuptheirbagsandreturnhome.”

KenyanuniversitieshavealsobeenhometoforeignstudentswhohailfromvariousAfricancountriesandevenbeyond.Loneliness,financialconstraints,cultureshock,languagebarrierandattitudeproblemsaresomeof thechallengesthathoveraroundthem.“Someof theseforeignstudentsfindithardtocommu-nicateeffectivelyinEnglish.Thereareotherswithattitudeproblemsacquiredfromtheirhomeenviron-ments,whichonlyearnsthemenemiesamongnativestudents.Soontheystarttomisstheircountriesandfeellonely,”thecounsellorexplains.

AccordingtoanarticleWhy Foreign Students Find Kenya Frustratingpublishedonwww.capitalfm.co.kebyNeizaMaria,thechangeinculturalsettingscausescultureshocktoforeignstudentswhofindtheirstayinKenyatobeafrustratingone.TheMozambicanfemalestudent,studyingjournalismattheUnitedStatesInternationalUniversity(USIU),advisesthatabackgroundresearchonKenyawouldprepareforeignstu-dentsfortheirstayinKenya.Shestates:“Itisimportanttoresearchaboutthecountry’smaincities,foodsandentertainmentspots.Youshouldalsobeopen-mindedandneverbeafraidof makingmistakesandfriends.”

Amidstthechallengesthatawaitstudentswhomigratetocampusfromothertowns,somestudentshavemanagedtoriseabovetheseimpedimentsanddeveloptheirlivesandthatof theirfamilies.Thecounsellortellsthestoryof afemalestudentwhocamefromapoorbackgroundbuteventuallymanagedtosucceedinherstudies.“ShecametoNairobiwithnoideaof howtofundherstudies.Hermotherwassickandshejusthappenedtocomeacrossanadvertseekingstudentsforacourse.Thankstoherhardwork,shewascalledtoTexasintheU.S,”sheexplains.Focus,itseems,isthekeywordforanyonewhowantstoexcelinuniversity.SomestudentshavebecomeChristianUnionleadersorgreatpeereducators.

Thecounsellorproposesthatnewstudentsneedtoscrutinisethestudents’handbooktolearnhowtocopewiththechallengesof universitylife.“Everyuniversityhasahandbook,whichenlightensstudentsonopportunitiesthattheycanexploittosharpenuptheirabilities.Therearemanystudentassociationsandextracurricularactivitiesthatcanhelpthemdevelopthemselves,”thecounsellorexplains.

Furthermore,thecounselloradvisesstudentsencounteringchallengesoncampustoseekassistancefromlecturers,chaplains,counsellorsandstudentwelfarebodies.Sheexaltstheimportanceof attendingorien-tation,whichfamiliarisesstudentswithuniversitylife.

Migratingfromoneplacetoanotherisneverawalkintheparkformanypeople.Settlingdowntolifeoncampusforstudentsfromotherareasisnodifferent.Asadvisedbythecounsellor,hardworkandfocuscansteerstudentsthroughthemurkywatersof campuslife.Thefinalproductwouldbepersonal,familialandnationaldevelopmentresultingfromthemigrationtouniversitytorealisecareeraspirations.

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Issues No. 5 & 6

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Book Review Oucho,J.O.(Ed.)(2011).Migration in the Service of African Develop-ment: Essays in Honour of Prof. Aderanti Adepoju.SafariBookPublisher,Ibadan.

Prof. Aderanti Adepoju dived into migration scholarship in the early1970swhenitwasperceivedasamerestepchildof demography.Fuelledbycommitmenttoandfocusonmigrationwork,migrationbecameacorecomponentof developmentagenda—ashiftfromthepreviousfocusonresearch,traininganddialogueonmigrationasanarrowperspectiveonpopulationdynamics.

MigrationintheServiceof AfricanDevelopment:EssaysinHonourof Prof.AderantiAdepojuisabeffitingtributetoamanwhohastirelesslyinspiredmanyAfricanstopayattentiontomanyaspectsof migration,suchas,population,labouranddevelopment.Inover500pages,readersgettounderstandProf.Adepoju’scontributioninmigrationscholarship,whichtookhimtovariousplacesworldwide.Consistingof 15chapters,

thebookboastsof astellarcastcomprisingvariouscontributingauthorsfromdiversebackgrounds—law,sociology,economics,geographyanddemography.However,allsharesomethingcommoninthattheirfocusinonfieldsof internalandinternationalmigration.

Someof themigration-linkedissueshighlightedinthebookfocusonwomen,climatechangeandstudents.ThebookalsodevoteschapterstoNigeria,Kenya,Mali,BotswanaandUganda,whichshedlightonvariousaspectsof internalmigration.OthersectionstolookforwardtointhebookincludeAfricanemigrationtoMexicoaswellasmigrationbetweenCoted’IvoireandBurkinaFaso.Itisaworthwhileandpleasurablereadforthosewithaninterestinthemigration-developmentnexus.YoucanpurchasethebookfromtheAfrican Migration and Policy Development Centre (AMADPOC) orforwardyouremailinquiriestocontact@amadpoc.org.

About Prof. Aderanti Adepoju

Prof.AderantiAdepojuisamemberof AMADPOC’sAdvisoryBoard.HeistheChief Executiveof theHumanResourcesDevelopmentCentreinLagos,Nigeriaanddoublesupasthecoordinatorof theNetworkof theMigrationResearchonAfrica(NOMRA).Previously,Prof.AdepojuwastheDeanof theFacultyof BusinessAdministrationattheUniversityof Lagos;acoordinatorfortheUnitedNationsPopulationFund(UNFPA),PopulationandHumanResourcesDevelopmentinAfrica;aRegionalAdviseronLabourandPopulationPolicyattheInternationalLabourOrganisation(ILO).

Prof.AderantihasalsoworkedfortheUnitedNationsConferenceonTradeandDevel-opment(UNCTAD)asaChief TechnicalAdviserandattheUniversityof Swaziland.Heisamemberof variousbodies,suchas,thePopulationAssociationof Nigeria,theHague

ProcessonRefugeeandMigrationPolicyandtheInternationalUnionfortheScientificStudyof Population(IUSSP).

If you would like to share your publication with us, please send us an email oncontact@amadpoc.org.

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