Progress towards achieving the Fifth APPC plan of action goals on international migration.

The Plan of Action on Population and Poverty adopted by the Fifth Asian and Pacific Population Conference contained seven recommendations on international migration addressed to Governments civil society organizations and international community and three recommendations on data collection research and training to be implemented in support of the first seven. Substantial progress has been accomplished towards achieving the goals of the Fifth APPC related to international migration. Many countries have continued to develop and strengthen policies aimed at regularizing labour migration. The volume of remittances has increased rapidly. Countries in the region have made concerted efforts to address irregular migration and trafficking in persons although significant challenges remain in these areas. Data collection research and information dissemination have also greatly expanded. Areas in which inadequate progress has been achieved include: (a) the ratification of international instruments related to international migration; and (b) regional cooperation on both labour and highly-skilled migration. Development strategies such as five-year development plans or poverty reduction strategy papers do not adequately integrate migration issues. More research is needed on migration and development migration mechanisms and several social issues associated with international migration.