The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) office in Banjul yesterday launched its State of the World Population 2006 report on the theme: “A passage to hope; women and international migration” at Paradise Suits Hotel.

Speaking at the official launching of the ceremony, Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, Secretary of State for Communication, Information and Technology said The Gambia is no stranger to the phenomenon of international migration which has aggravated the population problems facing the country .
She revealed that according to the 2003 population and housing census, 7.7% of the country’s population are immigrants. She said this influx has placed increasing pressure on the social services, thus reducing employment opportunities for Gambian and that it is believed to contribute to crime.

She outlined that the Gambia Government recognizes the role migrants play in providing remittances and contributing to the economy. “In view of this, we will strive to conduct a comprehensive review of the situation as a platform towards the formulation and implementation of a migration policy in the near future”, she said.

Honourable Macdouall Gaye also said that the state of the World Population Report for 2006 highlighted that women and young people are migrating and will continue to do so.
“Although women and youth have always made up a considerable proportion of international migrants, their contributions have largely gone unnoticed. Their voices must be heard. Efforts to combat xenophobia, violence, exploitation and trafficking need to be expanded and policies re-defined to reflect the realities of who migrates and why. Vision and leadership are needed to help steer the public debate away from reactionary sensationalism and an emphasis on “otherness” to the recognition of our common humanity which binds us together in a world increasingly without borders”, she added.

For her part, Miss Fadzai Gwaradzimba, the UNFPA representative in The Gambia revealed that this year’s State of the World Population Report focuses on women and international migration, describing it as a call to action to improve the situation of women migrants, who make up half of all international migrants worldwide.

“The report further shows that while migrants can open new doors to a world of greater equality and opportunity it can also lead to terrible human rights violation cases. From the enslavement of trafficking victims to the exploitation and abuse of domestic workers, million of female migrants face hazards that must be urgently addressed” She revealed.